Purpose of Night Guards

Night Guards for Grinding

How do you cope with stress? Your coping methods could quite literally be grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws. It’s called bruxism, and often it happens as you sleep. Teeth grinding can be caused not just by stress and anxiety, but by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, or teeth that are missing or crooked. The symptoms of teeth grinding may include the following below. 

Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

• Dull headaches

• Jaw soreness

• Teeth that are painful or loose

• Fractured or chipping of teeth

Teeth Grinding: Children vs. Adults

Teeth grinding is also common in children. Since their teeth and jaws change and grow so quickly, it is not usually a damaging habit that requires treatment. Most outgrow the habit by adolescence. While teeth grinding with adults is often the result of stress, the same is not always true with children. Other possible causes of teeth grinding in children include:

• Irritation in the mouth

• Allergies

• Misaligned teeth

Solutions to Teeth Grinding

Dr. Machen can fit you with a mouth guard perfectly suited to protect your teeth during sleep. In some cases, your dentist or physician may recommend taking a muscle relaxant before bedtime. If stress is the cause, you need to find a way to relax. Meditation, counseling and exercise can all help reduce stress and anxiety. If you’re concerned about your or your child’s teeth grinding, ask Dr. Machen about the potential causes and solutions.