TMJ - Jaw Pain

DO YOU CLENCH DAILY, OR GRIND YOUR TEETH NIGHTLY?

You may answer "no" to both questions, but in fact, all primates grind their teeth to some degree, many people just are not aware of this habit.   You can be sure thought, that if someone is putting their teeth and jaws through that kind of excess work, usually the signs are obvious. (see below) 

You might actually clench, more than you grind, but in either case, it is a activity that can result in damage to the teeth, gums and jaw joint. Although teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism) may happen at any time (when reading, driving or working on the computer) people often grind their teeth in their sleep. You may not even know you're doing it. The causes are not clear. Stress is one possible cause, but often the reason for the habit is not known.

DAMAGE CAUSED BY TEETH GRINDING

Teeth grinding may cause:

- Cracked teeth

- routine head or neck aches

- joint popping and clicking

- broken fillings

- Chipped enamel

- Broken porcelain on old crowns

- Flattened, grooved, worn down teeth

- Loosened teeth

- "pot holes" on the tops of molars

If something isn't done to stop the damage, bruxism may lead to jaw muscle or joint problems and even loss of your teeth.

POSSIBLE TREATMENTS

We can help you decide how best to treat your teeth grinding problem. The most common treatments are listed below.

A mouth guard is a plastic device that fits over your teeth. It protects them from grinding damage. A mouth guard is worn at the times when you are most likely to grind your teeth. Because many people need to wear one at night, a mouth guard is sometimes called a "night guard". The guard is custom made out of plastic. It may fit over your top or bottom teeth. Taking good care will prolong the life of your mouthguard. Rinse the guard before wearing it and after removing it from your mouth. Brush it gently with a toothbrush and toothpaste or liquid soap after removing it. Soak the guard in denture cleaner every so often to help keep it fresh. Be sure to check your guard for signs of wear. Show it to your dentist at each checkup. Mouth guards may wear down and need to be repaired or replaced.

***Don't be tempted to "treat yourself" by using a soft sports mouth guard. This can have disastrous consequences because this soft plastic deforms after several weeks of nightly use. The teeth will move and eventually when you close your teeth together they won't hit normally.

Stress is suspected in many cases of bruxism. Reducing stress may help relax your jaw muscles and make grinding less likely. Your dentist may suggest regular exercise or other ways to reduce stress.

In our office, we generally make our patients with bruxism a very specific kind of splint called a "Dawson Splint". This involves a highly dedicated process of positioning your lower teeth on the splint so that your upper and lower teeth relate in the kindest possible position for you joints. We would be happy to give you more specific information on this uniquely successful type of treatment.