Could You Have Bruxism?

Do you wake up with headaches in the morning or your jaws hurting?

Do you wake up with headaches in the morning or your jaws hurting?  Has your partner complained about chattering teeth when you’re sleeping? If you answered yes to these questions, you might be dealing with bruxism in Clovis, CA.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the formal name for grinding your teeth, which usually happens when you’re sleeping. This condition can have terrible consequences for your teeth as the force on them can be up to 250 pounds of pressure. If you notice that the cusps on your back teeth are flattening, that is another sign you have this involuntary habit.

Causes of Teeth Grinding

If you grind your teeth in your sleep, it usually takes place early during the sleep cycle before falling into a deep or REM sleep. Stress is a primary contributor to bruxism, so if you’ve been under pressure at work, home, or frustrated with someone, that can trigger nightly teeth grinding.

Other risk factors that can contribute to bruxism include:

• Smoking
• Drinking
• Snoring
• Caffeine intake
• Depression

Bruxism has links to Obstructive Sleep Apnea and changes in sleep patterns.

Treatments for Teeth Grinding

Our dentists from Valley Dental and Orthodontics can treat teeth grinding by prescribing a device known as a nightguard that cushions your teeth while sleeping. The nightguard looks like a sports mouthguard, and it creates a barrier between your teeth to prevent damage when you grind them.

Nightguards are available over the counter, but our dentists near you can customize one for you. A customized nightguard fits your mouth and teeth to provide better protection when you’re sleeping or napping.

Stress reduction is often the recommendation to help reduce the instances of teeth grinding. If you catch yourself clenching your teeth in frustration, then you may also grind your teeth during sleep or the day. To reduce stress, try relaxation techniques, meditation, or exercising to relieve stress.

If you wake and feel pain in your jaws, teeth, or have headaches, make an appointment with one of our dentists in Clovis, CA. They will examine your teeth for signs of bruxism and recommend treatments to reduce or prevent teeth grinding.