Bruxism is the habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, often while you're asleep.
If you frequently wake up with a sore jaw, experience headaches, or notice discomfort when chewing, there could be more going on than you realize. Two possible causes are bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Although these conditions are different, they can cause many of the same symptoms. In some cases, wearing a custom-made night guard can help relieve discomfort and protect your teeth from further damage.
Bruxism is the habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, often while you're asleep. Many people don't even know they're doing it until they begin experiencing jaw soreness, tooth sensitivity, or worn-down teeth. TMD, on the other hand, involves problems with the jaw joints or surrounding muscles. These joints, commonly called the TMJ, connect your lower jaw to your skull and allow you to open and close your mouth. When something isn't working properly, you may notice jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds, or difficulty opening your mouth comfortably.
Because the symptoms can overlap, it's not always easy to tell which condition is causing the problem. You might assume you're grinding your teeth when the discomfort is actually related to your jaw joints, or you could be dealing with both issues at once. Rather than trying to figure it out yourself, it's worth having your teeth and jaw examined. Treatment depends on what's causing your symptoms, and a night guard may be helpful in some cases.
At Northside Dental, we'll listen to what you've been experiencing and take a closer look at your teeth, bite, and jaw function. We'll explain what we find and discuss treatments that may help, keeping your comfort, schedule, and budget in mind. If you've been dealing with jaw pain, frequent headaches, or nighttime teeth grinding, call Northside Dental at 317-342-9446 to schedule an appointment. You can also visit our office at 15026 Greyhound Ct., Carmel, IN 46032.
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The Types of TMJ Problems
TMJ disorders typically fall into three categories:
- Myogenous TMJ problems are the most common type of TMD, accounting for over 80% of the cases. Myogenous TMJ disorders include muscle-related pain and result in discomfort in your jaw, temple, neck, or shoulder muscles, especially when you wake up.
- TMJ disorders can also involve jaw joint-generated pain. This is from internal derangement of the TMJ, which can include a dislocated jaw, a displaced disc within the TMJ, or an injury to the condyles, the rounded ends of the lower jaw that fit up into the jaw joint.
- Another type of TMJ problem involves degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Northside Dental can treat most TMJ problems. On a rare occasion, internal derangements and degenerative joint disease may require the additional involvement of a physician.
TMJ Treatment and a Custom-Fitted Nightguard
If you are experiencing symptoms of prolonged pain or sensitivity, you may require treatment for your TMJ problem. In a few cases, your bite may be compromised and must be rebuilt with crowns and veneers. In some cases, surgery or orthodontics may be the best treatment.
For most cases, the TMJ problem can be treated with a specially designed plastic mouth guard that is worn over your teeth at night.
It is important to realize that you will get far better results when having a guard customized by Northside Dental for your situation. One-size-fits-all retail nightguards may not solve the problem and can even make it worse. This is because everyone’s TMD is different. You may be a pure grinder, or clench and not grind, or grind sideways and clench just a little, or clench and grind both, etc. A nightguard should really be custom-designed by Northside Dental to treat your specific type of TMD.
TMJ Problems in Women Versus Men
TMJ pain is about four times more common in women than it is in men. Women tend to report more TMD symptoms and often have associated headache and jaw-clenching problems, sometimes accompanied by grinding or bruxism. Men report less pain and discomfort, but teeth grinding is more evident in men.
The Diagnosis of TMD
TMJ problems can be diagnosed through a detailed examination by Northside Dental. We will look for evidence of TMD on your teeth, mouth, gums, and tongue, and palpate the muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders to determine the level of tenderness. We will measure the lower jaw range of motion, conduct a scan of the jaw joints if necessary, and consider performing diagnostic imaging, MRI, or cone-beam X-rays.
Treatment of Mild TMJ Problems
TMJ pain can sometimes be related to a specific event and go away without any treatment. Dental clinicians hypothesize that stress plays a huge role here. During times of high stress, your body may react by grinding or clenching your teeth at night. If the stress diminishes, the clenching and grinding may decrease as well.
If you occasionally experience jaw joint problems, several self-care practices might be enough to control the problem. Some examples include stress management, yoga, meditation, biofeedback, gentle stretching and massaging of your jaw joint muscles, the application of heat or ice packs, avoiding chewing gum, and not opening your mouth excessively wide.
Common Causes of TMD and Link to Stress
TMJ problems in a minority of cases can be caused by a blow to your face or arthritis of your jaw joint. Most often, TMJ pain is related to a genetic predisposition and stress level. TMD is more likely to occur in high-stress professions when the individual is experiencing a high level of stress. This stress leads to teeth grinding and clenching and the associated head, neck, and shoulder pain.
In an exceedingly small percentage of cases, TMJ can be the result of a problem with your bite or occlusion. This could be a result of the teeth simply growing into a suboptimal position, thereby affecting your bite, or because of braces or orthodontics.
Your Comfort and Your Care
At Northside Dental, we know that finding time for dental appointments can be difficult, especially when you have a busy schedule. We do our best to offer convenient appointment times and make each visit as comfortable and efficient as possible. Whether you're coming in for routine care or a specific dental concern, our team is here to help you get the treatment you need. We want to be a dental office that you and your family can rely on for years to come, and we look forward to welcoming you into our practice. Call Northside Dental at 317-342-9446 to schedule an appointment, or visit us at 15026 Greyhound Ct., Carmel, IN 46032.