Facts About Bruxism

Bruxism is the clenching and/or grinding of teeth. While most of us clench or grind our teeth occasionally, bruxism occurs when the grinding and clenching become chronic. Once bruxism becomes a habit, your teeth and jaws can be very negatively affected and oral health complications may arise.

Symptoms of Bruxism

Below are a few symptoms of bruxism:

• A dull, constant headache when waking up in the morning
• Chronis soreness in the jaw, especially when opening and closing your mouth
• A popping or clicking sound when opening and closing your mouth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Loosening teeth

If bruxism goes untreated for long enough, your teeth can become loosened, fractured and may even fall out. Constantly grinding the teeth against one another will result in the loss of tooth enamel, making teeth incredibly sensitive and wearing down the chewing surfaces. It’s very important to make an appointment with Auburn Family Dental if you’re suffering from the symptoms on this list! The sooner we catch the problem, the better.

Treating Bruxism

Bruxism can’t be cured, but the symptoms can be lessened. We can fit you with a custom night guard to wear when you sleep. This night guard will protect your jaws from clenching and grinding together.

If you think you may be suffering from bruxism, please contact Auburn Family Dental to talk about receiving a night guard. Our office is located in sunny Wichita, KS!