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You may not be sure what to think when you wake up with mysterious jaw pain. Unfortunately, many people grind or clench their teeth when they sleep as a reflex or stress response, and these involuntary habits can cause serious damage to your teeth if allowed to go on. Here are what you should know about nocturnal teeth grinding, when you should seek help from your dentist, and a few home remedies that can help treat the issue.
Teeth grinding, which is also called bruxism, is the most common reason behind jaw pain. If you only notice your jaw hurting in the morning after you wake up and find that the pain diminishes as the day progresses, your discomfort is probably caused by you grinding your teeth in your sleep. This unfortunate reflex causes a lot of stress to the muscles and bones in your jaw.
If left untreated, teeth grinding can have serious consequences for your oral health. A few of these include:
A few ways to prevent or treat nocturnal teeth grinding at home include:
If your morning jaw pain isn’t going away despite your best efforts, you probably need help from a dentist. They will use advanced diagnostic technology to evaluate the bones and muscles in your TMJ joints. This data will allow them to develop an effective treatment plan that can relieve inflammation and tension in the joint, reducing grinding and the pain that results from it.
Don’t let teeth grinding ruin your beautiful smile. With the proper measures, you can sleep comfortably while protecting your teeth from damage.
Dr. Michael E. Michel graduated with his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and has pursued continuing education in dental sleep medicine ever since. He has extensively studied non-surgical treatments for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. His office in Topeka, KS offers treatments for sleep apnea as well as TMJ issues. To schedule an appointment to address nocturnal teeth grinding, contact his office online or dial (785) 273-0801.
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