Chronic grinding and clenching of the teeth during the night or day is known as Bruxism. This sometimes compulsive and uncontrollable habit frequently causes headaches, sore jaw, vertigo, enamel damage, facial distortions, joint disorders, and sometimes, even arthritis.
Some patients only experience teeth grinding at night while they sleep, but people also grind their teeth during the day while concentrating on a project, reading or working through stress.
What can I do about it?
For nighttime grinders who do it subconsciously, we encourage them to wear a mouth guard or occlusal splint while asleep. These dental guards offer more support and protection to your teeth and joints during the night.
For daytime grinders that find themselves clenching their jaws for elongated periods of time or doing slightly lighter grinding, you may want to consider wearing a lightweight mouth guard while awake to prevent dental damage and mid-day headaches.
Are You Searching For A Martinsburg Area Dentist For You Or Your Family?
If you’re searching for an experienced dentist please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.