What You Need to Know About Teeth Grinding in Queens
Bruxism — maybe you haven’t heard of it, but it’s an oral condition that’s increasingly common in adults these days. Also known as teeth grinding, the unconscious response to stress can happen during the day, and while sleeping. Temporary periods of stress-induced clenching and grinding are not a reason for worry, but when it lasts for weeks or months at a time, the condition can cause harm to surrounding teeth and the muscles and tendons in and around the jaw. For relief from teeth grinding in Queens, Drs. Gochman and Bharati recommend treatment with a custom mouthguard.
All About Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching
Because teeth grinding and clenching are common responses to stress and anxiety, bruxism is becoming increasingly common in American adults. Other factors influencing the condition include a misaligned jaw, poor posture, an imbalanced diet, or an underlying sleep condition (like sleep apnea) that causes teeth grinding.
Because the condition most often occurs during sleep, many adults who suffer from bruxism don’t realize they’ve got a problem. Symptoms of the condition include the following.
- Sore jaw
- Chronic headaches
- Facial, jaw, ear or neck pain
- Evidence of wear on the teeth
- Sensitive teeth
If you or someone you love are dealing with one or more of these side effects of teeth grinding, please don’t hesitate to seek a diagnosis and treatment. Left unattended to, bruxism has been linked to depression, insomnia, and eating disorders.
Treatment for Bruxism
Symptoms of bruxism may subside with various techniques to manage stress and anxiety. These may include exercise, meditation, or even talk therapy. Other techniques for reducing the occurrence of teeth grinding and clenching include focused facial relaxation, applying wet heat to the jaw before sleep, or cutting back on alcohol and caffeine.
If these techniques don’t help reduce bruxism symptoms, your dentist can help you find relief with a removable oral device. It’s a small, custom-fit mouthguard that you wear only during sleep. There are many variations of mouthguards, and they may work by bringing the jaw into proper alignment to prevent bruxism, or by protecting the teeth from the force and trauma of clenching and grinding.
Evaluation for Bruxism in Queens
When you schedule an evaluation for bruxism with the New York Smile Creators, we’ll thoroughly examine your teeth and surrounding oral structures for evidence of the condition. If we determine a grinding or clenching problem does exist, we’ll create a custom orthotic device based on your unique needs.
Are you or someone you love suffering from the side effects of bruxism? If so, don’t wait to seek the relief you deserve. Request your appointment today!