Stop Grinding Your Teeth at Night

Bruxism Treatment from our Johns Creek Dental Office

woman jaw pain

Do you often wake up with headaches? Do you have a sore jaw when you get out of bed in the morning? Have you noticed that one or more of your teeth or crowns are chipped?

These could all be signs that you may be grinding your teeth while you sleep or throughout the day.

If you have pain or discomfort near the jaw joint region (near the ears), we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jim Forester in Johns Creek.

What is Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)?

When a person grinds or clenches his or her teeth (typically while sleeping), bruxism may be diagnosed. The clenching or grinding is done with force, which can lead to significant tooth damage and other painful and annoying symptoms.

It is fairly common and should be taken seriously. Receiving proper treatment is very important to minimize the chances of more complicated, painful side effects and consequences.

However, much like sleep apnea, bruxism is a problem that could go ignored and undiagnosed. Many people do not know they suffer from bruxism until someone else tells them (usually their bed partner).

  • frequent headaches
  • migraines
  • tooth pain or sensitivity
  • jaw joint pain or soreness (near the ears)
  • ringing in the ears
  • earaches
  • damaged or chipped teeth, broken crowns, teeth worn down flat
  • muscle soreness (jaw and/or facial muscles)

Why do People Grind Their Teeth?

There are many reasons why people grind or clench their teeth, but the two most common reasons are:

High Stress and Anxiety

How to Treat Teeth Grinding With a Night Guard

There are many solutions that can:

  • provide relief for bruxism symptoms
  • help you relax and get a peaceful night’s sleep
  • protect your teeth

A night guard is often used while sleeping, and it is the most common form of treatment. It is a custom-fitted appliance that gets placed on top of the teeth. It is essentially a medical-grade mouth guard, similar to a sports mouthpiece. While you sleep, you have no control over grinding or clenching. This is why it is important to wear a night guard.

In order to create the mouthguard, impressions of the teeth are needed. Then we send the impressions to the lab so they can create a comfortable, securely-fitting night guard.

Wearing the night guard provides protection because it creates a cushion between the teeth. That way, when you bite down, you are biting the night guard instead of grinding your teeth. This helps to preserve the natural teeth, along with any dental work you have undergone.

Bruxism Treatment from Lifetime Smiles in Johns Creek

Dr. Forester has significant training and experience treating TMJ and occlusion (the manner in which the lower and upper teeth come together when biting down). He will help to solve the issue and to manage the TMJ/occlusal problems.

If you are ready to finally get relief from headaches and migraines, call our Johns Creek office today to schedule your consultation appointment. We are more than happy to answer any questions you have regarding TMJ disorders.