Young boy suffering from severe dental pain looking for emergency dental visit at Whitby, ON.

Teeth Grinding Treatment Helps Prevent Stressful Situations

November 1, 2020

If you unconsciously clench and grind your teeth, you are affected by a condition called bruxism. The clenching and grinding of your teeth are ongoing when you are awake or even when sleeping. Sleep bruxism is a sleep-related disorder associated with other issues like snoring and sleep apnea.

Treatment for the condition is not necessary if you are affected by mild bruxism. However, if the condition affecting you a severe or frequent to result in jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth, and other issues, you must seek teeth grinding treatment in Whitby, ON.

If you are affected by sleep bruxism and unaware of the condition unless complications develop, it will help you know the signs and symptoms of bruxism to seek regular dental care.

What Are the Complications Associated with Bruxism?

Mild cases of bruxism don’t cause severe complications, but if you are affected by the intense variety, you may have:

  • Damages to your teeth, restorations, jaw, or crowns.
  • Severe pain in the face and jaw.
  • Headaches resembling stressful situations.
  • Disorders occurring in the temporomandibular joints located in front of your ears, resulting in clicking sounds when opening and closing the mouth.

If the disorder is already causing your jaw problems, you can find relief for the condition by obtaining jaw clenching treatment from the dentist in Whitby, ON.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism?

The signs and symptoms of teeth grinding and clenching include the following:

  • Clenching and grinding your teeth loudly when sleeping to wake up your bed partner.
  • The issue leaves your teeth flattened, fractured, loose, or chipped.
  • You have increased tooth sensitivity and pain along with worn out enamel to expose more profound layers of your tooth.
  • You may suffer from a locked jaw or tired and tight jaw muscles that won’t open or close entirely.
  • Damages from chewing on the insides of your cheeks.

When Must You Contact a Dentist or Doctor?

If you have any of the symptoms described above, it is time for you to consult your dentist or doctor inquiring whether you need bruxism treatment to overcome the issue. If the problem affects your child, make sure that you mention it during your child’s next dental appointment.

The Causes of Bruxism

The medical fraternity doesn’t fully understand the causes of bruxism. They think it is a result of physical, psychological, and genetic factors that causes the problem.

  • Awake bruxism is attributed to emotions like anxiety, stress, anger, frustration, and tension.
  • Sleep bruxism could be a sleep-related chewing activity commonly associated with arousals when sleeping.

How Does the Whitby Dentist Diagnose Bruxism?

The Whitby dentist checks for signs of bruxism during regular dental exams. If you exhibit any indications, the dentist looks for changes in your teeth and mouth over several visits to determine whether your issue is progressive and determine if you need treatment.

If the cause of bruxism is related to a significant sleep disorder, the dentist recommends evaluation from a sleep medicine specialist. If psychological issues or other anxieties cause you to clench and grind your teeth, you are referred to a licensed therapist or counselor for advice. Dental exams are helpful to detect issues with the temporomandibular joint and other dental problems or health conditions.

What Is the Treatment for Bruxism?

Treatment for bruxism is unnecessary in many cases, as many children outgrow the problem without treatment. Many adults don’t clench or grind their teeth badly to need therapy. However, if the issue is severe, the Whitby dentist recommends dental approaches, medications, and treatments to ensure pain or discomfort to the jaw is relieved, and additional damage to the teeth is prevented. You can discuss with your dentist about the option best suited for your needs.

Dental Approaches for Bruxism

Dentists recommend a bruxism appliance which is similar to a mouthguard and helps to keep the teeth separated to avoid causing damages from clenching and grinding. The device is fabricated from hard acrylic or soft materials to fit over your upper and lower teeth.

Treatment offered by the Whitby dentist to overcome the problem of bruxism will not entirely help to stop the issue. To overcome the problem in its entirety, you may have to adopt stress and anxiety management, behavioral change, and even medications that help you to find relief from the issue. However, if you want to avoid the complications of bruxism, the Whitby dentist provides an excellent option to manage the problem by preventing significant damages to your teeth.

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