Individuals who have a condition called sleep bruxism unconsciously clench their jaws and/or grind their teeth together while they sleep. The exact cause of sleep bruxism is not known. However, it does seem to be related to stress. It also has a genetic component, as the condition tends to run in families.
Regardless of its cause, the real trouble with sleep bruxism is that the grinding and clenching happens while you’re sleeping. As a result, many people do not even realize that they’re damaging their teeth during the night.
There are some telltale signs of sleep bruxism, however, that can indicate the need for wearing a mouth guard (also called a night guard) while you sleep.
5 Signs You Need a Night Guard
You Have Painful Symptoms When You Wake Up
Frequently waking with jaw, face, teeth, neck, or shoulder pain is a symptom of sleep bruxism.
Your Teeth Have Excessive Wear and Tear
Sleep bruxism puts excessive wear and tear on your teeth than results in overly worn enamel, weakened teeth, chips, and even tooth decay and receding gums.
You Suffer From Frequent Headaches or Migraines
The excessive muscle strain caused by grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw while sleep can result in frequent morning headaches and/or migraines.
You've Chipped a Tooth
If you have sleep bruxism, you could be putting immense pressure on your teeth while you sleep. As a result, you could chip a tooth while you're dreaming or be more susceptible to chipping or breaking your teeth during the day.
Your Teeth Are Sensitive and Your Gums Are Receding
Bruxism can cause the gums to recede while also wearing down your tooth enamel. Both issues can lead to painful tooth sensitivity to hot and cold.
Sleep Bruxism and TMJ Disorder Treatment in Orange, CA
At Dr. Christopher J. Fotinos Dr. Randy A. Rosales Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we use advanced imaging technology in our office to scan our patients’ mouths and produce 100% customized night guards designed to achieve a comfortable fit and prevent you from grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw while you sleep.
Our dentists can recommend the specific type of night guard that’s best for you based on your individual symptoms and the type of sleep bruxism wear patterns visible on your teeth.
To learn more about night guards and sleep bruxism, we welcome you to schedule an appointment at our dentists’ office in Orange, CA today.
