WARNING SIGNS OF SLEEP BRUXISM

Unlike habits that you perform during the day, habits that you engage in while you sleep can be hard to identify and treat. Unfortunately, one of the most common sleep habits is teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. While bruxism may go unnoticed during the night, it can produce a host of disruptive symptoms that are hard to ignore during the day.

What is Sleep Bruxism?

Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep-related movement disorder in which patients grind, gnash or clench their teeth while they are asleep. Teeth grinding poses a great risk to your dental health as well as your upper body comfort. When bruxism impacts the TMJ (jaw joint), it can lead to daytime headaches, facial pain, ear pain and neck discomfort.

Warning Signs That Your Grind During the Night

If you don’t have a roommate or bed partner to reveal your nightly teeth grinding habit, you may have to rely on the consequences it causes when you wake up. You should consider the possibility of sleep bruxism if you experience the following symptoms:

• Teeth that appear flat or dull
• Teeth that look prematurely worn down
• Signs of chewing on the inner cheek or indentations on the tongue,
• Unexplainable chips and cracks in teeth
• Tooth sensitivity
• Jaw pain or soreness upon waking
• Tension headaches (related to TMJ dysfunction)

According to Mayo Clinic, individuals who clench or grind their teeth (brux) during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea). A trip to the dentist could protect your smile and restore your sleep quality!

Teeth Grinding Treatment in Buford

Are you suffering from the symptoms of sleep bruxism? Buford Family Dental is proud to treat nighttime teeth grinding using effective, FDA-approved mouthguards that are customized to your unique mouth. Get the sleep your body deserves without taxing your dental health.