Do you sometimes wake up with a sore jaw, or do you have a morning headache most days? A loved one could have mentioned you make strange noises with your mouth during your sleep, or has even noticed you clench your jaw at nighttime.
Teeth grinding, known as bruxism, is quite a common condition that affects a lot of patients here at Glandwr. Clenching or grinding occasionally is fine, but if you’re grinding your teeth at night more regularly, it can cause issues for your oral health if left unaddressed.
Why do people grind their teeth at night?
The reason why people grind their teeth at night is not something that is entirely understood, but there could be several factors that contribute to someone doing it.
Teeth grinding could be the result of lots of stress in your day, anxiety, frustration or anger. If you consider yourself a perfectionist or competitive person, it could be the reason you’re clenching in your sleep!
In other cases, grinding can be caused as a side effect from consuming large amounts of caffeine or drinking alcohol before bed. It can also be caused by certain medications or the use of recreational drugs.
For other people, bruxism can be associated with sleep apnea. This is a sleep disorder that interrupts breathing as you sleep, and can be very serious.
How will grinding my teeth impact my health?
First off, grinding your teeth at night can cause disruption to your sleep, keeping you from getting the required rest both your mind and body needs. There is a whole list of side effects of not getting enough valuable sleep. Short-term, you can be tired and irritable, but long-term it can increase the likelihood of health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
In terms of your teeth and oral health, consistent bruxism can be very damaging. Grinding your teeth often can wear down the enamel, making your teeth sensitive, causing discolouration, and increasing your chance of tooth decay. Very hard grinding can even result in chipping, breaking, or loosening your teeth, as well as causing jaw pain.
How can I stop grinding my teeth at night?
At Glandwr, our first step to treat teeth grinding is to find out what the underlying cause is. If you think that stress and anxiety may be the cause, we would recommend you take time before bed to de-stress and unwind, if this doesn’t work, then you may need to seek professional help.
If sleep apnea is causing the grinding, we can help you get a mouthguard fitted to help improve the quality of your sleep. A mouthguard can also help with other causes of bruxism, protecting your teeth from damage until you address the underlying issue.
