Never Ignore the Warning Signs of Bruxism

Do you ever wake up with a sore jaw?

If so, you might be a night grinder… a habit that many people suffer from today. Strangely enough, many people are actually unaware that they have a teeth grinding habit because they’re sleeping through it, after all! A teeth grinding or “bruxism” problem is not something to ignore…as it can ultimately lead to significant damage to the teeth. Our Hamilton dentist warns that you may have a problem if you regularly wake up with a sore jaw, headaches, or notice your teeth are becoming shorter in length or beginning to appear jagged or worn.

The Risks of Grinding

By ignoring a bruxism problem, a person is putting their oral health at risk… specifically, putting their teeth at risk for wear, fracture and breakage. But what exactly causes the phenomenon? Well, bruxism has been found to be closely associated with feelings of anxiety or stress, and is also closely linked to other sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. There are even factors such as smoking, sleep medication, caffeine and heavy alcohol use that are thought to play a role in one’s risk for developing a teeth grinding habit. You can read more about it here: Causes 0f Bruxism.

Is there a cure?

While there is currently no exact “cure” for bruxism, there’s definitely a way to control it and prevent its negative health effects. Custom-fitted mouth guards are a great solution to preventing any damaging effects that grinding could cause to the teeth and jaw. At our Hamilton dental clinic, we offer custom night guard services to protect patients from bruxism damage… but many patients haven’t a clue that they grind their teeth to begin with. This is why it’s important to come in for your routine check-ups, and to always look out for the warning signs.

If you suspect you may have a bruxism issue, we’d be happy to speak with you and offer a solution!