When it comes to your dental health, there are more concerns than cavities or bad breath. You may not know it, but you could be grinding your teeth in your sleep. If you frequently wake up feeling tired, have headaches, or an aching pain around your face, you may have TMD or bruxism. These disorders are often found together and can cause problems for your physical and dental health. Your Sunny Smiles Family Dentistry in El Paso, TX, is here today to explain how we can help with these problems.
Defining TMJ And Bruxism
Although these are two different disorders, they are often found to occur together in patients. Bruxism is the chronic grinding of your teeth together, often done subconsciously. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD) is a condition that affects the way your jaw moves. TMJ can be caused by factors such as genetics, injury, arthritis, and more. Bruxism is not a direct cause of jaw dysfunction, but the tension created by grinding your teeth together can exacerbate the problems of TMD.
Can You Solve These Problems On Your Own?
In mild cases, you may be able to decrease your symptoms on your own. Bruxism may be caused by a variety of problems such as stress, teeth growing in, and even genetics. It is commonly found in children, and in some cases, a patient may grow out of it. You may be able to decrease your symptoms of TMJ by focusing on how you move your jaw, participating in physical therapy, and even changing your eating behaviors for the time being.
Seeking Professional Treatment For These Disorders
While there is a chance that you can stop these problems on your own, if you begin experiencing more severe symptoms, it is best to get professional help. If you begin to have daily headaches, popping sounds when you open or close your mouth, or have sensitive teeth, these may be signs that you have a more severe case of these dysfunctions.
When these are left untreated, your dental health can be affected. Constantly clenching your jaw may lead to worn-down tooth surfaces, which can make it easier to form cavities or crack your teeth. This can lead to needing restorative work done frequently. To help, your dentist may be able to give you a custom oral appliance. This will protect your teeth from gnawing against each other as you sleep and will also allow your jaw joints to rest properly. In return, you may have less headaches and soreness.
Receive Your Oral Appliance Today
If you have symptoms of TMJ or bruxism, we can help you. To receive a protective mouthguard, schedule an appointment with Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX today by calling 915. 759.7000