When you wake up with headaches, a sore jaw, or similar problems, you might have a teeth-grinding problem. Grinding your teeth in your sleep can lead to discomfort and other problems that you’ll need treatment for. Lovett Dental Pasadena offers teeth grinding treatment through our dental specialists to provide relief from these symptoms.
Causes of Bruxism
Bruxism, or grinding of teeth, occurs when you clench your jaws or teeth together without realizing it. In some cases, this can happen while you’re awake, but it usually happens during sleep. Teeth grinding in sleep can be difficult to determine since you’re not awake or conscious while doing it. Grinding your teeth can occur due to different factors, such as the following:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Tension
- Family history of bruxism
- Underlying disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disorder or sleep apnea
- Certain medications, such as some antidepressants
Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
How can you tell if you have problems with grinding your teeth? You might experience certain symptoms when you wake up, such as the following:
- Teeth grinding headache
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Soreness in your jaw, ear, neck, or face
- Disrupted sleep
- Tired jaw muscles
- Tooth damage, such as chipped or flattened teeth
If you believe you might need help with teeth grinding in sleep, you should see a dentist at Lovett Dental Pasadena. We can determine if you have this condition and help you get the right kind of treatment for relief.
Problems with Grinding of Teeth
When grinding of teeth occurs, it usually happens in childhood and goes away as people get older. However, tooth damage and other problems can occur during this time, resulting in the need for treatment. For example, you could end up with serious tooth damage or damage to dental crowns or other restorations. Grinding your teeth can also result in severe discomfort in your jaw or face. In some cases, clenching or grinding your teeth can raise the risk of having temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders that make it hard to open and close your jaws.
Grinding your teeth might not have a high risk of leading to serious problems. However, you might deal with frequent headaches or other symptoms that affect your day-to-day life. Lovett Dental in Pasadena, Texas, can help you find relief from this condition to ease soreness, headaches, and other symptoms.
Treatment for Teeth Grinding in Sleep
If you suffer from teeth grinding in sleep, there are ways to treat this condition. Our dentists can evaluate your teeth to check for signs of damage or other problems. If there is any damage, we can treat it before determining a way to prevent you from grinding your teeth. For example, we might need to replace a dental crown if you have one that is damaged due to grinding your teeth.
If you have a severe problem with grinding your teeth, we can provide you with dental treatment options. Mouthguards or nightguards offer an effective way to prevent you from being able to grind your teeth while you are asleep. With a custom-fit nightguard from Lovett Dental Pasadena, your teeth will remain separated during sleep so that you are unable to clench your jaws. This helps prevent headaches, jaw soreness, and other symptoms from occurring. Wearing a nightguard can also help reduce the risk of damage to your teeth, which lowers your chance of needing tooth restoration or other dental work done.
Contact Us for Teeth Grinding Treatment
If you need help with teeth grinding and live in Texas, please contact Lovett Dental Pasadena at 281-998-8800 today for an appointment. Our dentists can help you find the right treatment for relief from grinding your teeth.