Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is a lot more common than people think. This frequently occurs at night during sleep, so you may not even know that this is happening until you begin having symptoms when you wake up, or if your dentist sees the thinning and excessive loss of height on several teeth as one sign.
Jaw pain or morning tension, headaches (particularly in the temples), teeth sensitivity, worn or flattened edges of your teeth, and small chips and cracks are other common symptoms. Patients may also experience a clicking in the jaw joint, earache-like symptoms, or have their spouse report hearing sounds of grinding during sleep.
The cause may be stress, but other contributors can include sleep disruption, caffeine and alcohol intake, or an uneven bite. For help from a Dentist Bournemouth, contact //gentledentistry.co.uk
One of the best ways to protect your teeth is with a night guard (which may also be called by other names like bite guard or occlusal splint). It does not always “cure” this overuse, but by placing the hard plate in between the upper and lower teeth, it generates a guard to reduce wear throughout those hours of grinding; it also enables scarring jaw muscles to get some well-needed rest.
Retainers made by a dentist will mold to the exact shape of your teeth, while most store-bought forms are bulkier and can promote chewing in some individuals.
The best solutions are usually hybrid solutions. Your dentist can suggest an examination to exclude bite problems, replace broken fillings, or monitor cracks.
Try reducing caffeine and alcohol in the evenings, building a wind-down routine at night, or managing stress with simple habits like stretching, breathing exercises, or even just taking a short walk after work.
