Dr. Dana Walters offers advice and treatment to patients in Hilliard and Upper Arlington, Ohio who are experiencing the effects of bruxism or teeth grinding.
Patients often grind teeth while asleep, which means many people are unaware that they have the condition. Symptoms to watch for are waking up frequently with a sore jaw, a headache or finding broken or fractured teeth.
In adults, teeth grinding is a symptom of other disorders, like an abnormal bite or temporomandibular dysfunction, and many people clench their teeth without knowing it. Most often, the cause of teeth grinding is stress in daily life. Relaxation techniques like exercise, yoga, and meditation can help. For children, on the other hand, teeth grinding is caused by disorders other than stress. Causes of bruxism in children include oral irritation, allergies, and teeth that need realigning.
Both adults and children affected by teeth grinding need dental attention for the condition. If it is left unchecked, the affected teeth will eventually loosen and fall out. The best way to diagnose teeth grinding is to talk to your general dentist. Adults usually benefit from a mouth guard to keep the effects of teeth grinding in check while they gain control over stressful lifestyles.