Do You Grind Your Teeth While You Sleep?
A lot of people clench or grind their teeth, especially as they sleep. It’s called bruxism and can lead to jaw pain and tooth damage. If this sounds like you or someone close to you, talk to us about it at David Rice DDS in Elgin IL.
Most grinding occurs during sleep. If you wake up with a sore jaw and dull headache it could be a clue, especially if it happens on a regular basis.
Anxiety or stress are common causes of bruxism, but not the only reasons. It can also be related to an abnormal bite, or to missing or crooked teeth.
We can diagnose bruxism and discuss nightguards. A nightguard is a mouthguard worn during sleep to protect your teeth.
In the short term, here are three things that may help:
Control caffeine or alcohol intake as these may increase tooth grinding.
Avoid gum and, don’t chew on pens or pencils. This can help the jaw from clenching repeatedly.
Allow the jaw to relax; sometimes just setting your tongue between your teeth will help your jaw relax.
At David Rice DDS in Elgin IL, the dental health of our patients is of utmost importance. We offer complete general dentistry. Patients from Bartlet, South Elgin, and Wayne also come to our office for TMJ treatment, restorative dentistry, and much more. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!
Contact David A. Rice, DDS:
847-741-2353
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
1972 Larkin Ave #1
Elgin, IL
60123