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.
