Do you find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth when you are stressed? When you wake up, do you feel jaw or tooth pain? Teeth clenching and grinding, also known as bruxism, is a common dental concern for anxious patients or patients under stress. Patients with an uneven bite or crooked teeth are also more prone to bruxism. Additionally, TMD patients may experience bruxism as a symptom of their bite disorder. Our dental practice offers multiple treatments for patients who want to stop teeth grinding in Gouverneur, NY. Addressing teeth grinding can prevent tooth and jaw pain as well as injured or broken enamel.
Treat Teeth Grinding in Gouverneur, NY
There are multiple ways to address teeth grinding and protect the teeth and jaw from wear or damage:
Physical Therapy
We recommend physical therapy for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Injury or stress to the temporomandibular joints which connect the skull to the jawbone can lead to bruxism. During physical therapy, patients learn the best exercises to rest their jaw and alleviate pain in the face, jaw, and neck. Oftentimes, patients’ posture or how they hold their jaw at rest places stress on the teeth and jaw muscles.
In conjunction with physical therapy, we will typically recommend that patients follow a soft diet for several weeks. Hard and crunchy foods place pressure on the teeth and jaw. Eating softer foods gives the jaw a break and allows the jaw and facial muscles to rest.
Mouthguard
Custom-made nightguards are oral appliances that patients can wear during sleep. Unfortunately, the majority of patients who clench and grind their teeth do so unconsciously at night. Because of this, it can be difficult for patients to realize that they have bruxism. However, if patients wake up with chronic headaches, toothaches, or jaw pain, they may have a bite disorder like TMD.
We take dental impressions to create custom nightguards for patients who clench and grind their teeth. Patients can wear their mouthguard at night or even during the day. Wearing the nightguard during the day can help patients determine when they typically clench their jaw or grind their teeth. Our mouthguards are made of hard acrylic, which covers the upper or lower teeth. The mouthguard keeps the teeth protected and alleviates pressure from the jaw.
Bite Equilibration
We typically offer bite equilibration services for patients who have TMD. A bite equilibration essentially creates a straighter or more balanced bite. Treatments that create an even bite can include dental crowns or orthodontic treatment. Crowns are caps that fully cover worn or damaged teeth. Orthodontic treatments like braces or even Invisalign create a more comfortable bite and address crooked teeth. However, we do not recommend Invisalign for patients with bruxism as they can damage their aligners.
Do you need to treat your bruxism? Have you noticed discomfort as a result of bruxism? Call [new_patient_phone_span] or schedule a dental consultation with us online. We are always happy to help you find the right treatment for your current symptoms.