Night time grinding

If you wake up in the morning with a headache and sore jaw muscles, you could be grinding your teeth at night. This is called Bruxism, which is the unconscious clenching of your teeth during the day and/or grinding of your teeth at night. This is an interesting article to write because I grind my teeth at night. So what do you need to know about this condition?

Bruxism is fairly common with children and most of them will eventually grow out of it.

How do I know if I grind my teeth at night? Most people find out when their sleeping partner tells them that they are doing so. I found out when my dad woke me up to tell me I was grinding my teeth so hard, that he could hear it from across the house. If you wake up and have a dull headache and a tired jaw, you were probably grinding your teeth. Also, if your cheeks are constantly chewed up in the morning ,your tongue has indentations, and you have an earache, it is very likely that you are grinding your teeth.

What can be causing it? Anxiety, stress, suppressed anger, and frustration could all be causing this. It may be due to an abnormal alignment of your teeth, in which case, you should see your dentist. In children, it is mainly due to teething and the development of their teeth and jaw.

Is it harmful? Most of the time, Bruxism doesn't cause serious damage. But in severe cases, it will lead to damaged teeth, constant headaches and earaches, facial pain, and Temporomandibular disorders (problems with the joints located right in front of your ears).

What can I do about it? The cheap and easy way to go about it is to buy a mouth guard (it doesn't have to be anything special, just one that is used in sports) and to wear it at night. Typically, they won't stay in the first few nights. Fear not, not all hope is lost. It does take some time to adjust to sleeping with it, and eventually, you will wake up still wearing it. DO NOT buy a mouth guard for this if you suffer from sleep apnea, as it will only make that worse. As I said previously, you may need to see your dentist about this. He can make you a custom fit mouth guard that will not dislodge in your sleep. Also, you may just need to relieve whatever stress you may have.

Bruxism may not be a very pressing matter, but it need to be monitored for the sake of your smile.