Daytime Consequences of Nighttime Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a common sleeping habit for both kids and adults. While the sound of teeth grinding can certainly disrupt your partner’s quality of sleep, it can also lead to serious threats within your oral health as well. Nocturnal bruxism, which can include grinding or clenching the teeth, requires an amount of force that is simply too much for your teeth, jaw and periodontal ligaments to handle. Therefore, teeth grinding during the night typically does not go unpunished during the day.
If you are not sure if you grind or clench your teeth while you sleep, there are several daytime symptoms that can give you clues, including the following:
- Excessive teeth wear
- Hypersensitive teeth (due to worn enamel)
- Dental fracture/damage
- Repeated failure of dental work (fillings, crowns, etc)
- Sore jaw or facial muscles
- Tight or clicking TMJ (temporomandibular joint)
- Shifting teeth
- Lose teeth
- Tension headache
Teeth Grinding Treatment
How can you stop a habit that you don’t even know you are doing? Fortunately, there is a way to avoid the consequences of nocturnal bruxism. Teeth grinding can be effectively prevented with a custom nightguard from your dentist. At Laguna West Dental, we proudly offer FDA approved nightguards that fit comfortably and securely so that both you and your partner can achieve a good night’s sleep going forward. For more information about treating your nighttime teeth grinding habit, please call our office today.