There are several different causes of bruxism, and many people may not even realize they have it until they are seeing their dentist due to chipping their teeth frequently and are in constant need of crowns.
Bruxism is actually the term that is used for grinding your teeth, and it typically happens while you are sleeping, stressed, or deeply focused on something.
This condition can affect people of all ages and can cause very serious tooth, jaw, and joint problems if it isn’t taken care of early.
Warning Signs
Aside from chipping teeth frequently, there are a few other warning signs to watch for, such as
- teeth worn down to nubs because of excessive grinding
- pain while chewing
- new or increased sensitivity to temperatures (both hot and cold)
- sore face, jaw, and/or neck upon waking in the morning
- misalignment of upper and lower teeth
- TMJD: temporomandibular joint dysfunction
Oftentimes children who have bruxism will eventually grow out of it as their bodies grow; however, that’s not always the case.
We can offer treatment options to preserve your child’s smile while his or her mouth and jaw are developing.
Relax
With the kids going back to school soon, the stress in their lives is likely to increase as well, and you might find your kids starting to grind their teeth.
One of the best ways to stop yourself from grinding your teeth is simply to reduce the amount of stress in your life.
Some of the things you can do at home to alleviate this problem can be as simple as going for a walk, getting plenty of sleep, listening to relaxing music, and remembering to breathe.
If these options don’t offer any relief from bruxism, come into our office for a full assessment to review your options.
~Dr. Chai (a.k.a. Dr. Tooth!)
