Did you know that if you wake up with headaches, neck aches, sore shoulders, or jaw pain, your symptoms could come from nighttime clenching and grinding of your teeth? Excessive teeth grinding and clenching called bruxism can cause more than just dental problems. In fact, in many cases, bruxism is linked to migraine headaches and facial tension.
One way to find out if you have bruxism is to look for bite marks along the insides of your cheeks or sides of your tongue. If you have a line of white, damaged tissue, or anything resembling blood blisters, it is possible you grind your teeth.
Your teeth might also be sensitive to temperature. If you feel a twinge when you bite into a cold apple, take a breath of winter air, or drink a cold beverage, grinding your teeth is a common culprit. Sometimes your partner might hear the grinding, but often, especially if you clench, it might not be audible.
When you schedule an exam with Anthony Bartels, DDS, he can look for signs of irregular wear on your teeth that can indicate grinding.
Dr. Bartels attended Arkansas State University, where he earned a bachelor's of science degree in zoology. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Louisiana State University.
Dr. Bartels is ...
Aside from the symptoms that develop from chronic teeth grinding, you can also cause damage to your jaw joints and your teeth, and you may live in constant pain. When you deal with these types of symptoms regularly, they can prevent you from sleeping restfully and feeling comfortable.
Your teeth really take the brunt of any extent of bruxism. You might prematurely wear down your teeth, chip them, cause gum recession, or even crack teeth in a relatively short amount of time simply because of the amount of force that your jaws exert. In fact, they can exert up to 1,200 pounds of pressure per square inch on your second molars. Night after night, that kind of pressure builds up, causing damage as well as muscle tension.
Fortunately, the treatment for bruxism is non-invasive and can be very effective. At our Jonesboro, AR dental office, we treat bruxism with a specialized nightguard.
But not all nightguards are the same. Ours are effective because they protect your teeth and encourage your jaws to relax so that your symptoms can subside. We will take impressions for your custom nightguard to ensure a proper, snug fit that will not fall out while you are asleep.
Call us today to schedule an evaluation. Dr. Bartels will be able to tell if you have been grinding your teeth and can provide you with a solution to protect your teeth and give you a better night’s sleep.
If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, you may suffer from a condition known as bruxism. Unfortunately, bruxism can cause headaches and jaw pain; although it usually happens at night while you’re sleeping, some people also clench their jaw during the day. Several things, including stress, can ...
Keeping your night guard clean and bacteria-free not only prolongs its life but also protects your teeth from plaque buildup. If you don't clean it, your night guard becomes a breeding ground for bacteria buildup, which can end up causing tooth decay.
So here are some important tips for keeping ...
If you are grinding your teeth at night, you might be experiencing headaches or tension, and the pain will only get worse if you aren’t treating your grinding habits. Night guards are commonly used to prevent grinding, and custom options are a great way to stop grinding your teeth ...
Have you been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or do you snore? The office of Dr. Anthony Bartels DDS offers custom-made oral appliances that fit comfortably in your mouth. These devices support your jaw in such a way that the upper airway remains open. This often prevents or lessens snoring and may eliminate the need for a CPAP machine! Make an appointment with us to see if you are a candidate for this dental device that is life-changing for so many!
