Do you wake up some mornings with a headache of origins you can't define?  Do you experience vague muscle pain in your face?  If so, you may be experiencing symptoms of bruxism.  What is bruxism?  You likely know it by its more informal name - two names, actually:  "clenching" and "grinding".  It's also not something you'll want to ignore, because bruxism wears down the surfce of your teeth and sets you up for cavities and tooth fractures.

What Causes Bruxism?

At Impressive Smiles, we've seen many fators can combine to reate a bruxism habit.  Stress and anxiety are believed to be leading causes, as are a misaligned bite, missing teeth, and sleep abnormalities.  Some medications can also trigger episodes, as can neurological or musculature illnesses.  If you are experiencing pain or discomfort due to bruxism give us a call at (860)673-2455.

Why Should I Be Concerned About Teeth Grinding?  Isn't It Normal?

Teeth grinding may be common, but it's not "normal," per se.  Because the stresses of burxism affect the entire jaw, this pressure can create cracks and chips in tteth, and over time can contribute to a shortening of lower face height due to bone loss.  If that sounds scary, it should.  It's also a change you've seen before - in individuals who have lost all of their teeth and do not wear dentures.  We're pretty sure that's not a look you're aiming to acheive.

How Do I Know I Have a Problem, and What Treatments Are Available?

In many cases, well be able to see evidence of bruxism in your X-rays - and on the surface of your teeth- and will alert you to the problem long before you exhibit a single symptom, particularly if you sleep alone.  Occasionally however, you may start to clench and frind between visits and begin to notice symptoms on your own.  If that's more like your situation, and you find that you often wake up with a sore jaw, a headache that goes away shortly after rising, or if a loved one tells you that you are grinding your teeth all night, mention it the next time that you are visiting us.  As far as treatment goes, because the causes of bruxism are varied, the treatment varies as well.  If we determine stress is the primary cause we'll likely recommend you abstain from excessive caffeine and attempt some form of daily relaxation.  Even something as simple as a warm bath before sleeping can work wonders.

If your bite is a concern, we may suggest you visit an orthodontist for an evaluation, and if prescription medication or neuromuscular illnesses are believed to be the cause, referral to the appropriate specialist would be part of your plan to break the habit.  

In each of these cases, though, we'll likely recommend an occlusal mouth guard, or splint to protect your teeth and bone from further damage.  These protective devices are easy to wear, and contraty to what you may believe, will not impede your ability to get a good night's sleep.  In fact, they tend to enhance the quality of your sleep so you'll wake up more refreshed.

So, the next time you're in our office, ask if some sort of guard may be right for you.  Many people go years without being aware they're clenching and grinding since it takes time for the symptoms to show in your mouth.  Getting a mouthguard or splint once you know you have this habit, though,  will help you with headaches and muscle pain