Teeth grinding and jaw clenching can happen without you realizing it. Over time, these habits can put excessive pressure on your teeth and jaw joints, contributing to discomfort, headaches, and dental damage. Recognizing the signs of bruxism can help you seek treatment before symptoms become more difficult to manage.
At Talbert Family Dentistry, we provide personalized treatment for bruxism and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) based on your symptoms and oral health needs.
Common Signs You Might Be Grinding or Clenching at Night
Bruxism can cause symptoms in your teeth, jaw, head, neck, and face. You may wake up with jaw tenderness or stiffness, worn or chipped teeth, headaches, or clicking and popping when you move your jaw.
Morning headaches and jaw soreness can occur when your jaw muscles have been working throughout the night. You might also notice worn, chipped, or cracked teeth over time. Other symptoms can include facial discomfort, earaches, neck and shoulder pain, or difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
If you are experiencing these symptoms regularly, have your teeth and jaw evaluated. Let us help you determine whether grinding or clenching is contributing to your pain.
Why Many People Don't Realize They're Doing It
Many people grind or clench their teeth while sleeping and are unaware that they are doing it. The American Dental Association (ADA) explains that teeth grinding can cause problems such as damaged teeth and jaw discomfort. A custom night guard could be recommended to help protect your teeth from the forces created by grinding.
How Talbert Family Dentistry Treats Bruxism and TMJ Pain
At Talbert Family Dentistry, we perform a comprehensive evaluation to understand your symptoms and identify factors that can contribute to TMD or bruxism. Panoramic X-rays and 3D digital scans are used to examine your jaw joints, while your bite and jaw movement are evaluated as part of your diagnosis.
Custom Night Guard — A custom occlusal guard is designed to protect your teeth from grinding forces while allowing your jaw muscles to relax during sleep. Because TMD affects each patient differently, your treatment will be based on your specific symptoms and needs. That's why we offer custom night guards that are made in-house for you.
BOTOX® Treatment — For some patients, BOTOX® therapy is an option to consider to help relax overactive jaw muscles and reduce clenching, grinding, and associated discomfort. We can discuss your treatment options after we evaluate your symptoms and determine whether BOTOX® could be an option for you.
Find Relief From Bruxism and TMJ Pain
If you are experiencing morning headaches, jaw soreness, worn teeth, or other signs of bruxism, come into Talbert Family Dentistry for an evaluation. If a night guard for TMJ in Madison, AL is the right option for you, we will develop a personalized treatment plan to help protect your smile and improve your comfort. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.