Do you grind your teeth together at night? Can you hear your child grinding teeth too?
Bruxism, from a Greek word that means “gnashing the teeth,” occurs when you constantly grind your teeth back and forth over each other. Grinding the teeth can be caused by stress and anxiety but also often occurs during one’s sleep. Other causes include a sleep disorder like sleep apnea as well as missing or crooked teeth or an abnormal bite.
Temporomandibular joint disorder – it’s a mouthful! – is a problem with your jaw and the muscles in your face that control the jaw. This disorder is commonly called TMJ.
The temporomandibular joint is like a hinge that connects your jaw to your skull in front of your ears. This joint helps you move your jaw as you chew, talk and yawn.
Do You Have Symptoms of TMJ?
Do you have pain in the jaw joint area or in or around your ear when you open your mouth wide or chew? Does the pain reach down to your neck and shoulders? Does your jaw ever get locked or stuck in an open-mouthed position? Do you hear sounds like grating, popping or clicking in your jaw joint when you chew or talk?
If yes, you may have TMJ. Other symptoms can include the feeling that your upper and lower teeth don’t fit together properly, facial swelling, toothache, headache, earache and tinnitus or ringing in the ears.
The medical and dental profession is somewhat puzzled as the cause of TMJ. The joint or muscles may have a problem or may have experienced an injury like whiplash or other trauma. Grind the teeth (bruxism) can put excessive pressure on the joint. Arthritis in this joint can cause TMJ as can tight facial and jaw muscles due to stress
Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
If you have a persistent sore jaw when you wake up or a dull, recurring headache, you may have bruxism and not even know about. Or perhaps your partner tells you that the grinding sound can be heard at night.
An accurate diagnosis of bruxism can be made right here in our office. We’ll examine your mouth for excessive wear on your teeth and check your jaw for tenderness.
Treatment for Bruxism or Teeth Grinding
After we diagnose the problem, we can fit you with a special mouth guard that can help protect your teeth during the night.
If excessive stress is the problem, check with your doctor about stress-reducing options. Exercise is a great stress reliever! Stress counseling can also be extremely helpful. And treating a sleep disorder can relieve or even stop your grinding habit.
Other helpful tips include:
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Botox injections can be an effective treatment of severe bruxism especially if other treatments have failed. The lowest dose should be used to prevent excessive muscle atrophy.
One more point – if you notice your child grinding his or her teeth at night, please come see us for an evaluation. The teeth may not be aligned properly or there may be other forces at work like allergies or stress and anxiety.