Bruxism

Bruxism is the clenching or grinding of the teeth that often occurs while a person is sleeping.
The symptoms of bruxism are:  

• A sore, tired jaw
• Difficulty in opening and closing your mouth
• Sensitive teeth
• Headaches or earaches
• Pain in your jaw joints
• Possibly no symptoms   

Bruxism can cause dental problems    

When you brux, the force on your teeth is many times greater than during normal chewing.
These forces can cause:

• Flattened or worn-down teeth
• Loss of tooth enamel near the gumline
• Fractured or loose teeth
• Damage to the jawbone or jaw joints

Treating bruxism



    Thermal Plastic Nightguard

Though all of the causes of bruxism are not know, stress is often a factor. If this is the case, a variety of stress reduction techniques may be recommended. We may also recommend medication to temporarily reduce stress and relieve pain.

Sometimes, missing teeth, worn teeth, spaces between teeth, or teeth that are out of alignment may cause grinding and clenching. In this case, bridges, crowns, equilibration, orthodontics, or other dental treatments can often restore your bite and eliminate grinding and clenching.

A common and effective treatment for stopping the damage caused by bruxism is the use of a nightguard. This is a plastic device that fits over your top or bottom teeth and protects your teeth by absorbing the forces caused by grinding. A custom nightguard, made from models of your teeth, usually offers the most effective and comfortable protection.

No matter what is causing your bruxism, it's important to treatm it early on to prevent damage and restore harmony to your mouth.