Have you ever heard of bruxism? Sleep bruxism is a sleeping condition in which you struggle with grinding your teeth at night. However, bruxism cans also occur unconsciously while you are awake as well.
If you are grinding your teeth at night, or if you frequently make loud noises, you may be suffering from bruxism. To find out if you are, talk with a roommate or loved one to determine if they have ever noticed this symptom present while you sleep.
Other symptoms associated with bruxism can also be felt after waking up. You may feel pains or sores when you wake up if bruxism is occurring, as well as tight jaw muscles, an increase in tooth sensitivity, facial pain, earaches, headaches, and a locked jaw that cannot fully open or close.
Physical damage is often visible when you are suffering from bruxism. When you wake up, inspect your mouth for signs of injury. This includes damage to your teeth, including chips or cracks that have no other explanation on how they arose. Furthermore, if your teeth look flat, fractured, or excessively worn, bruxism may be the cause. In addition, search for indentations on your tongue and inspect the inner linings of your cheek tissue to determine if chewing or biting is taking place. If you require a bruxism treatment, such as a night guard or bite plate, visit our office.
Our team at our dentist office in Bluffton, South Carolina, call us at 843-757-2828, and a member of our team will gladly assist you. Dr. Hobart, Dr. Yu, and Dr. Ulbrich are here for your smile!