Are You Grinding Your Teeth at Night?

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By Arthur Kezian

Have you ever woken up in the morning and felt pressure or soreness in your jaw? Have you ever woken up clenching your teeth? If so, you could be grinding your teeth at nights. Most patients who grind their teeth are not aware of it until they feel soreness or see wear patterns on their teeth. Most of the grinding happens unconsciously which is why patients are not aware of the problem.

Although most of the unconscious clenching occurs at night, you can also be clenching your teeth during the day. About 70% of people clench their teeth because of stress or anxiety. If you are stressed about a certain situation or are trying to focus on a certain task, you might be clenching your teeth. Also, if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned below, you may be a grinder and may have to visit a dentist. The symptoms include but are not limited to:

- Soreness of the jaw (TMJ pain)- Headaches- Ear pain- Stiffness of the shoulders and neck - Sleep disorders

A cosmetic dentist that deals with temporomandibular joint pain can check your symptoms and help you treat your problems with grinding. If you don’t try to stop your clenching and grinding, then given time, you can wear away most of your enamel. Worn off enamel means weaker teeth, and weaker teeth are the best candidates for fractures and brakes in the teeth.

To prevent this from happening to your teeth, a dentist will most likely recommend a night guard for you to wear while you sleep. These are custom-made plastic trays (almost like sport’s guards) that fit your mouth according to your bite. They are either made for your top teeth or your bottom teeth. These trays act as a protective layer for your teeth and prevent you from grinding down your enamel. Patients who wear their night guards for a very long time notice the wear in the plastic. If they hadn’t worn the guards, that same wear, or more, would have been on their teeth. These trays are the most conservative approach when it comes to grinding or clenching and are considered one of the best options.

If you have noticed any of the aforementioned symptoms, then visit Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS. He is a dentist that helps many patients with their grinding and clenching habits. Don’t put the situation to the side. If you prioritize your teeth, you will be able to keep them in the long run.
 

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777
http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.

Bruxism: What You Need To Know

By Arthur Kezian

Are you suffering from TMJ pain with each and every bite?  Do you have frequent headaches?  Are you having trouble sleeping or feeling excessive stress in your life?  All of these symptoms may the result of strain on your TMJ joint.   Bruxism, which is a medical term for excess teeth clenching and grinding, is a relatively common condition that can cause these symptoms.  Although this is not a dangerous disorder, it can make life significantly uncomfortable and may lead to permanent tooth damage.

If you are experiencing TMJ pain, Dr. Kezian can evaluate you to identify if there is an underlying dental problem affecting your joint.  Dr. Kezian and staff can create a treatment plan for you that alleviate your symptoms. 

What Is TMJ Pain?

If you open your mouth all the way and then shut it again, you have used your temporo-mandibular joint or TMJ joint.  It consists of a disc of cartilage that sits between the temporal bone of the skull and the lower jaw bone or mandible.  If the cartilaginous disc is displaced, this can place pressure on the joint or nearby sensory nerves.  This may cause pain.  In addition, if the surrounding muscles spasm, this can also cause discomfort.  Symptoms that suggest TMJ related pain include temple, cheek or ear pain, sore jaw muscles, locking of your jaw or sharp pain when you chew or swallow. 

What Causes TMJ Pain?

There are many ways to damage the TMJ joint.  Trauma or excess gum chewing can do this.  One of the most common causes is teeth clenching or bruxism.  Bruxism is often related to stress and can be exacerbated by an abnormal bite or missing teeth.  Patients often don’t realize they are clenching or holding their teeth tightly together.  Also, teeth grinding or sliding of the teeth against each other, often occurs while the patient is sleeping and unaware.  Long term grinding may permanently damage your teeth.

How Do You Treat TMJ Pain?

TMJ Pain can be treated initially by lifestyle changes such as eliminating gum chewing, eating soft foods and applying heat to the surrounding muscles two times a day.  If TMJ pain is due to bruxism, reducing stress can relieve some symptoms.  Importantly, because bruxism can lead to teeth damage, seeking a consultation with a dentist is imperative.  Treatment options include a mouth guard or splint to be worn at night to prevent grinding and ultimately damage to the teeth.  There are different types of mouth guards available. If you suffer from TMJ pain, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Kezian.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.