When a person is dealing with stress, we are often just told to “get a grip” or “keep a stiff upper lip”. If you take this literally, you could be grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws to cope. This is called bruxism, and usually it happens when you sleep. #smilewithconfidence
Teeth grinding can be caused by stress and anxiety but also by sleep disorders, abnormal bites or if the teeth are crooked or missing. Teeth grinding, according to the Journal of the American Dental Association, is also associated with alcohol and tobacco use. If a person drinks or smokes they are twice as likely to grind their teeth. Queen Creek AZ Dentist
Teeth Grinding symptoms might include:
- A dull headache
- Soreness in the jaw
- Teeth that are painful or loose #martindental
- Broken/fractured teeth
A mouthguard can help solve some of these issues and your dentist can fit you with a custom mouthguard to help protect your teeth while you sleep. Sometimes your physician may recommend taking a muscle relaxant before bed. If stress is what is causing the bruxism, the best medicine is to try and find some way to relax. Try meditation, counseling and exercise to help reduce stress and anxiety. Queen Creek AZ Dentist
Children also grind their teeth and it is fairly common. Their teeth and jaws will change and grow quickly so grinding as a kid is not usually a damaging habit that would require treatment. With children, teeth grinding is not usually due to stress. Other causes are irritation in the mouth, allergies or misaligned teeth. If you are concerned about your child and their grinding as your dentist about potential causes and if there are any solutions.
