Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) And TMJ Problems
Most people are unaware that they are grinding in their sleep till their partner complains of the noise.
How to realize that you grind:
- Pain in the lower jaw in the morning
- Pain in the ear or neck area
- Stiffness of lower jaw muscles
- Fracture of fillings
- Wearing away of teeth
- Sensitivity to hot and cold food.
What can be done about it?
The most common cause of grinding is an incorrect bite, causing you to clench your teeth to compensate the bite. As this happens at night, the solution is to use a mouthguard (splint) at night to prevent damage to your teeth while grinding.
This if left untreated can lead to temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) problems.
