Bruxism effects about 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 children and adults in the US, but most people aren’t even aware that they have this condition. Learn more about what this condition is and how to spot the signs and symptoms of it.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is clenching or grinding of a persons teeth. Many people do this while they sleep, and this is called “nocturnal bruxism”. Others who experience this during the day time are thought to experience this condition due to stress or anxiety.
If you experience tight jaw muscles, damaged teeth, morning headaches, painful jaw joint, long lasting pain near your jaw or face, occasional swelling on your lower jaw, or if you are woken up by a grinding sound at night from your mouth, you may be experiencing the effects without even knowing it. Left untreated, it can lead to extreme tooth sensitivity, and TMJ – a disorder that can seriously damage your jaw.
How Can Bruxism Be Treated?
Treatment for it can come in one of two ways.
First and foremost, your dentist will ask about the amount of stress you encounter during the day. If your condition is onset by stress, your dentist may recommend professional counseling or biofeedback exercises to help you destress.
If it’s is related to the alignment of your teeth, your dentist may make a mouth guard or bite splint that fits your mouth & help prevent further damage to your teeth. Either way, going to your dentist first is a great starting place to fixing this issue!
Looking to speak to a professional about bruxism? Give DSA a call today at (602) 795-5995!
Whether it be playing a sport, or a small fall, or biting into things that are a little to hard, we run the risk of causing trauma to our mouths. How do you know if the accident you’ve had is enough to require emergency dentistry? Here are some oral injuries that need immediate treatment: (more…)
Kids are active. This is no surprise! With the summer right around the corner, summer activities in camps will be in full swing. Here’s how you can aid not only in your child’s safety, but prevent and protect your child from a dental emergency as well the summer: (more…)
In many aspects of life, playing it safe can prevent lots of headaches, and in this case, toothaches as well. As much as we love seeing you, we never like when you are faced with an injury and need to see us immediately. Here are some tips to prevent and avoid dental emergencies. (more…)
Few things are more dreaded than tooth or mouth pain. In such a sensitive area, pain that might be tolerable elsewhere suddenly becomes unbearable. Drinking hot or cold beverages, chewing, and even breathing may seem like a major undertaking when mouth pain sets in.
If you are experiencing oral pain, our team at Dental Specialty Associates is here to help. We’ve put together a list of the leading causes of mouth pain. Which one sounds like you?
Clenching or Grinding Your Teeth
Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, is one of the most common causes of mouth pain. Grinding your teeth typically occurs while you’re sleeping and requires an immense amount of pressure from your jaws, which may leave a sore, achy feeling the next morning. But the effects may be long term as well — over time, grinding your teeth wears them down to stumps and may cause them to crack, break, or fracture in a painful manner.
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ) is a condition that occurs when the joint between your lower and upper jaw is damaged. This may happens as a result of trauma or other injury, but the most common cause is grinding your teeth at night. The immense pressure required to grind your teeth places undue stress on the cartilage in the joint and may even damage it permanently. If you have TMJ, you may feel pain when you open or close your mouth, and it may hurt to chew foods.
Cracked or Broken Tooth
A cracked or broken tooth can be very painful if not treated right away. Cracked teeth leave the sensitive inner pulp, which contains the nerve endings, exposed and vulnerable. If left untreated, this soft pulp can become infected and cause even more mouth pain.
Any number of things can crack a tooth: hard foods or candies, trauma, and even poor hygiene can weaken your teeth and cause them to chip and break.
Tooth Decay or Infection
Think of the last time you had a splinter or hangnail that became infected. The area surrounding the wound became red and swollen as your body worked to heal itself, and at times, you likely felt a throbbing pain.
The same thing happens when a tooth becomes infected or begins to decay, except this time, that throbbing pain is inside a hard, enameled shell that can’t expand the way the skin on your finger might. This can be extremely painful if not resolved by a dentist immediately.
Gum Recession or Disease
Receding gum lines can lead to more than just periodontal disease — they can also lead to a very painful situation that requires a dentist’s attention. As your gums recede, they leave your tooth’s sensitive root exposed to food, drink, and saliva. Not only is this part of your tooth more sensitive to temperature, but it also lacks the protective enamel that coats the rest of your tooth … which means it’s more susceptible to further damage.
Have More Questions About Mouth Pain?
If you are experiencing mouth pain, our team of specialized professionals at Dental Specialty Associates can help. Give us a call at 602-795-5995 to schedule your appointment.
We’ve all felt the sinking feeling that comes when you suddenly notice a strange, rough area on the edge of a tooth and realize that one of your chompers is chipped. Having a chipped or broken tooth is a fairly common occurrence among adults … but it doesn’t have to be. Certain things are more apt to damage your teeth than others, and if you steer clear of those, you can usually avoid breaking your pearly whites. Here are 4 things that can cause you to chip a tooth:
Ice, Ice, Baby
We all know that chewing ice is bad for our teeth. That’s because it can actually chip or break them if done frequently or too much. It can be tempting to crunch a cube in the hot summer months, but if you must eat ice, we recommend letting it melt slowly in your mouth like candy instead of chewing it — if it’s a crunch you crave, opt for a healthy snack like carrot sticks or celery.
I Want Candy
Hard candies are just as bad for your teeth like ice cubes! Though your enamel is tough enough to withstand a lot of different hard substances, some things are better left unchewed … including hard candies. On top of the hardness factor, chewing a hard candy also leave sugar jammed deep into the crevices of your teeth, which can cause decay and damage.
Things that go Bump
If your tooth has already started to weaken or decay, even a slight bump, fall, or hit to your tooth could cause it to chip or break. Steer clear of this by avoiding rough, physical activity like contact sports, and be sure to visit your dentist if you are in an accident where your mouth suffers any trauma.
Back to the Grind
People who grind their teeth while they sleep are especially susceptible to chipped or broken teeth. Over time, grinding your teeth weakens and wears on your enamel, which leaves your tooth exposed and porous. This encourages cracks, chips, and breakage. You can prevent some of this damage by wearing a mouthguard at night to protect your teeth, as well as talking to your dentist to explore other options.
Did you chip a tooth causing pain or embarrassment? Dental Specialty Associates can help! Give us a call at 480-633-5995 to schedule your first visit.
