The daily grind

Check the symptoms and what can be done

Do you ever wake up with sore teeth, stiff jaw muscles, headaches, or neck pain? These symptoms could be signs of nocturnal bruxism, or grinding your teeth while sleeping. With the increased stress of the pandemic, more patients are reporting clenching and grinding.

Bruxism can begin at any age, to both adults and children. Although the exact causes of bruxism are unknown, several factors are involved. Stress during different stages of our life, an abnormal bite, and crooked or missing teeth can be part of the problem.

Practicing stress reduction, and the use of warm compresses will help these tense chewing muscles relax, bringing comfort during acute episodes. If your bite is not coming together correctly, adjusting your teeth can help reduce the excessive force on one tooth. Improving the alignment of crooked teeth, or replacing missing teeth will also help ensure the forces are balanced, keeping the closing muscles of your mouth happy and working together.

Without proper treatment, the heavy forces applied to teeth during episodes of grinding wreak havoc not only on the teeth but to the bone and gums around the teeth. Over time, the teeth can fracture and the bone support around the teeth recede as a response to the heavy, unbalanced forces.

Regular dental visits are a great way to ensure that grinding is not having a detrimental effect on your oral health. Your dentist may recommend treatment with a custom-made nightguard which is worn to bed providing protection by balancing the forces produced by grinding. The night guard also relieves pressure on the complex jaw joint, maintaining the proper space between the joint and your skull.

In coordination with night guard therapy, your oral health care professional may prescribe muscle relaxers and/or anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy may also be indicated to help improve flexibility and the range of motion in the head and neck area.

Dr. Eric L. Eby, D.D.S., M.A.G.D. His interests include crown and bridge, implant dentistry, and sleep apnea.