What is Bruxism and How do you Treat it?

Bruxism is when you experience teeth grinding or clenching your jaw whilst you are asleep or awake. This could be in the form of teeth grinding, clenching or gnashing, and can be the result of anxiety, stress or a sleep-related movement disorder. Bruxism can result in damage to your teeth, as teeth grinding wears away your natural tooth enamel. This may not require treatment, however visiting your local dentist, such as Northern Beaches Dental Practice in Frenchs Forest, can help. Your professional and experienced dental practice can prevent bruxism with mouthguards and splints or reductive coronoplasty. Read on to find out more about bruxism and contact us today or book an appointment online to discuss treatment plan options.

What is Bruxism?

Teeth grinding, or bruxism is when you have a problem with grinding your teeth, clenching your jaw or gnashing your teeth together. This can occur while asleep (nocturnal bruxism) or when you are awake (awake bruxism). This can happen subconsciously, due to extreme fatigue and stress or anxiety. Other factors that can increase the risk of bruxism include things like age, personality type, medications, drugs and alcohol and innate disorders.

The symptoms of bruxism can include:

• Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner
• Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
• Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
• Increased tooth pain or sensitivity
• Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won’t open or close
• Jaw, neck or face pain
• Pain that feels like an earache
• Dull headache that starts in the temples
• Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
• Sleep disruption

Make sure that you contact your local dental practitioner if you are experiencing these symptoms, as they can lead to further dental problems down the track if left untreated.

How Can You Treat Teeth Grinding?

In most cases, bruxism is not serious. Extreme cases, however, may lead to damage to your teeth, tension headaches, severe jaw pain and TMJs. Mouthguards are a kind of occlusal splint that many dentists recommend for severe bruxism disorders. Your dentist will custom fit this to your mouth, for wearing when your teeth grinding or clenching is at its worst. Reductive coronoplasty is a procedure that may also be effective if your teeth grinding is caused by crowded, misaligned, or crooked teeth. This dental procedure may be used to reshape or level the biting surface of your teeth. Lastly, Botox is a new method used by some dentists in the treatment of those with severe bruxism, as it helps to limit the possibility of jaw pain.

Can I Visit a Dentist if I am Grinding Teeth in my Sleep?

If you find that you are grinding teeth in your sleep, call Northern Beaches Dental in Frenchs Forest today on 02 9190 6925.