As your local Redcliffe Dentists know, the first people to notice when a person has Bruxism is their partner or parents.

Bruxism, which is the involuntary clenching, grinding and gnashing of teeth  The causes can be a little bit of a mystery in some cases, but there are a range of factors that play a part: smoking, too much caffeine, alcohol and some illicit drugs can exaggerate links with this condition. It can also be genetic or be related to other disorders such as sleep apnoea, but for many people it is the result of emotional stress, anxiety, tension or anger. In children, it is common to find that they are grinding at night, but this condition usually resolves itself.

Symptoms of grinding teeth include:

Aching teeth and/or stiffness in the face and templates, especially after waking up
Headache, jaw joint and ear pain
Cracked or chipped tooth enamel
Sensitive teeth, specially to temperature
Tooth indentations in the tongue and/or raised tissue
More wear and tear in the teeth than normal
Loose teeth
If you suspect that you could suffering from Bruxism, it is really important you speak to your dentist. Treating the clenching and grinding is important not only to soothe aches and pains, but for protecting your teeth as this condition puts a lot of pressure on them. If Bruxism is left untreated, it can become a vicious cycle: the muscles that cause the grinding to get stronger, so grinding gets worse and your symptoms continue to worsen.

Treatment includes an occlusal splint that you wear at night and other therapies like stress management that will help with the cause of the problem.

The sooner you start treatment for Bruxism, the better! Having a consultation with any one of the fantastic Dentists at John Street Dental.  They can help you manage your symptoms and prevent things getting worse.

Call John Street Dental on 3284 4281 today or Book Online