Up to fifty percent of children and up to thirty percent of adults may be suffering from Bruxism in Hamden. Many people don’t know that they suffer from it, much less what it is.
What is Bruxism?
A lot of people grind their coffee in the morning to wake up. But do you grind your teeth at night?
Bruxism is grinding and clenching your teeth at night. While it sometimes occurs during waking hours, it usually happens at the early stages of deep sleep.
While Bruxism does tend to be higher in people with a family history of the condition, in most cases it can be directly connected to stress and anxiety. People in high stress jobs tend to suffer from the syndrome more than others and there has also been some correlation with the intake of caffeine and nicotine at night before going to sleep.
What are the Symptoms of Bruxism?
The main indication of Bruxism is Tooth wear. You may not even realize it’s occurring until our dentist in Hamden sees you for your annual checkup. Wear can cause problems with your bite, can cause tooth fractures, tooth pain, and sensitivity to hot and cold as the nerves become exposed. The wear exposes the teeth to decay and can lead to cavities, and possible loss of teeth.
Bruxism can also be indicated by tenderness or pain in the jaw, or cheek. Some people bite their lips and cheeks, and get headaches, particularly in the temples. The noise from the grinding and clenching can even wake up your partner, causing them to nudge you to roll over.
What can you do for Bruxism in Hamden?
Your dentist in Hamden will guide you through the steps you can take to control grinding your teeth. Relaxation techniques before sleep, eating a snack before bedtime, taking a warm bath, and even changing your position during sleep can alleviate the clenching and grinding. Some sleeping positions trick your body into involuntary eating movements and by simply changing your position you can stop the grind.
The sure way to control the grind is to have your dentist prepare a custom night guard. The guard will protect your teeth and stop rubbing and wear. Your dentist will make a mold so that the guard fits comfortably in your mouth. As you get older, you may have new guards made to adjust the fit.
While there is no cure for Bruxism, the syndrome does tend to lessen with age. If you have any of the symptoms, or if you know that others in your family have suffered from the syndrome, your dentist in Hamden will be happy to investigate.
Give us a call at (203) 248-0011 to make an appointment so the only grind you have to worry about in the morning is your coffee.