Bruxism
Bruxism and TMJ Disorders Understanding the Difference
Sleep Bruxism
Sleep bruxism causes patients to clench and grind their teeth while they sleep. You may wake up with jaw pain, headaches, and other bruxism symptoms but not realize you have the condition, as it doesn't affect you during the day.
Awake Bruxism
Awake bruxism occurs during the day. Patients with awake bruxism clench and grind their teeth while concentrating on work or when overwhelmed by stress. This form of bruxism can also be hard to recognize in the moment.
TMJ Disorder
A TMJ disorder occurs when the jaw joints become inflamed. This is typically caused by an imbalanced bite, but it can also be caused by bruxism. If you grind your teeth to the point of jaw joint inflammation, you may develop a TMJ disorder.
Treatment Can Be Simple For Patients With Bruxism
Nightguard
Wearing a nightguard to bed is ideal for patients with sleep bruxism. We can customize a nightguard that cushions your top and bottom teeth when you clench or grind your jaws. This prevents dental damage and alleviates the pressure put on the jaw muscles as a result of teeth grinding.
Physical Therapy
Patients with awake bruxism may benefit more from physical therapy. This can teach you how to recognize the symptoms of bruxism, as well as exercises to relax your jaw and avoid teeth grinding.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, managing stress levels, and reducing caffeine intake, can greatly reduce the symptoms of bruxism, like grinding and clenching the teeth.
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