Millions of people wake up with headaches, sore jaws and an enduring sluggishness that takes hours to subside every morning. Do you have any ideas of why these are happening? If you think of a really crazy night the night before, then you are wrong. The pain is actually due to Bruxism, i.e. teeth grinding and clenching.
Recent reports state that 50% of adults suffer from bruxism and is a contributing factor for aging. The reports also say that bruxism develops from variety of issues and the most common among them are,
- Stress
- Irregular sleep pattern
- Medication of health condition
Teeth grinding not only develops headaches and a sore jaw but can fracture and wear your teeth down. It also cause major changes to structure of your jaw and make you look years older than you actually are. Moreover, your bite can be affected and in some cases it even collapses or over-closes. At this time, the chin juts projects forward farther than it should and makes the lower third of your face appear squished and this misalignment of jaw gives your face an aged look.
Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism
The common signs and symptoms of teeth grinding includes,
- Muscle pain
- Headaches
- Tooth sensitivity
- Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
- Gum recession
- Jaw tenderness
- Shortened teeth
Tips to Deal with Teeth Grinding
Have Your Bite Evaluated
Visit the best dentist in Penrith to have your bite evaluated and identify potential dental-related causes. This evaluation helps your dentist identify the root of the habit and check for signs of wear and misalignment.
Manage Your Stress
As we all know, stress can cause several health issues and habits such as teeth grinding and crunching. Some people can handle stress naturally whereas others get stressed thinking of stress itself. If you are one among them and need some help in handling the issue, then consider yoga or meditation to calm yourself and relieve anxiety. Also, try taking bath before the night’s sleep to avoid teeth grinding during sleep.
Rest Your Jaw Muscles
People who are suffering from jaw discomfort or headaches can try massaging the jaw muscles or applying a warm compress to the jaw area to relax muscles and relieve pain. For instant pain relief and reducing inflammation, take over-the-counter pain reliever.
Night Guard
Use a mouth guard for teeth grinding to prevent stress on your jaw and reduce excessive tooth wear and headaches. This works well in cases when disease, medication or chronic stress is the underlying cause of your grinding habit.
Teeth grinding is an annoying habit and can damage tooth surfaces, leaving teeth exposed to decay and eventually leading to tooth loss if left untreated. So, consult with the professionals of your regular dental clinic in Perth the earliest to prevent persistent jaw pain or headaches and look younger.