Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is probably one of the weirdest sleeping disorders someone could suffer from. It is exactly what the name suggests, and people do randomly grind their teeth, or bite down really hard when they sleep. Teeth grinding doesn’t only happen when you are sleeping but the most serious kinds are generally nocturnal teeth grinding because you can’t control yourself.
So how do you know whether you suffer from bruxism? The symptoms of teeth grinding can be very mild so are often undetected by sufferers, and it is also not uncommon that the partner notices it before the sufferer. For other people, the most notable sign that you suffer from teeth grinding is the distinctive noise you make when you clench your jaws and grind the teeth. This can be very annoying if they’re trying to sleep and may disrupt their sleep.
A lot of people that grind their teeth will find that they wake up with headaches, migraines or pain in the jaws. This is due to the hard clenching of the jaw so the muscles are contracted for long periods of time, causing the soreness in the mornings. A third symptom you can develop after suffering from bruxism for a while is the wearing down of the teeth which can result in loose teeth. You may start to notice that your teeth are getting damaged for no apparent reason, and if you do it is suggested you see the TMJ dentist in Gilbert, Arizona who can verify your problem.
Teeth grinding is as much a bad sleeping habit as it is a sleeping disorder because although it may start off because of stress or other conditions, it can turn into a habit that will make you continue to grind your teeth even if the original cause is relieved.
In terms of treatments, there are a few things that help prevent teeth grinding from happening but the most popular and arguably the most effective way is the use of a mouth guard. The dental guard or splint is basically a plastic mold you put in your mouth when you sleep which physically stops you from grinding your teeth at night and diminishes the problems that result in tooth wear. This, however, doesn’t resolve the root problem and you will have to wear the mouth guard on a nightly basis to protect your teeth.
There are other ways of reducing teeth clenching such as botox to tire out the muscles or complicated uses of electrical equipment attached to your mouth which can be very expensive.
Here’s another article about grinding teeth you can read to learn more – What Is Bruxism?