Has your partner ever accused you of grinding your teeth while you sleep? Or do you frequently wake up with a sore jaw or dull headache? If you have made night time teeth grinding a habit, it is time you do yourself and your loved one a favor and seek help. Many dental practices offer solutions in custom night time mouth guards to stop bruxism, or teeth grinding.
Besides the frustration it may be causing your partner, night time teeth grinding can wreak havoc on your oral health over a long period of time. It can cause teeth to fracture, loosen or even fall out. By seeking help from your dentist and getting a custom made mouth guard, you can avoid costly dental procedures that chronic teeth grinding can demand such as crowns, bridges, root canals or implants. Teeth grinding can also lead to jaw problems such as Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD) and can even be severe enough to contribute to hearing loss.
It is important to note that night time teeth grinding or clenching in kids is very common. In fact, it affects about 2 out of every 10 kids. Experts say that kids who grind their teeth at night usually outgrow it. However, parents should watch for chronic night time grinding habits that might eventually cause damage.
Adult teeth grinding habits may be caused by stress or anxiety or it might be due to a misaligned bite or crooked teeth. Whatever the cause, bruxism should not be ignored. If your teeth clenching or grinding is caused by an uneven bite, your dentist can recommend corrective treatment to help you. It is also important to make any lifestyle changes that could be stress-inducing. Stress can be a trigger for many individuals who clench their teeth on a daily basis. Whatever your cause of teeth grinding may be, your oral health depends on your decision to seek treatment before serious damage is done to your teeth.
