If you occasionally wake up with a heavy headache and an aching jaw, bruxism may affect you. That is, it is possible that you are unknowingly grinding your teeth as you sleep. Up to 15% of young people are reported to grind their teeth late at night, and most individuals have no idea they are doing it. If left untreated, bruxism may result in tooth damage, restless nights, and other problems. If you have bruxism at night, contact the Tukwila dentist. 

Understanding the effects of bruxism and tips for nighttime dental care

Anxiety and stress are common causes of bruxism, according to experts. Your personality type could raise your likelihood of developing bruxism. You may be more prone to nightly teeth grinding than others if you are tense and anxious or regularly deal with pain, anger, or irritation. 

Additionally, hypercompetitive, aggressive, or rushed individuals may experience bruxism. Additionally, there is proof that an imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the brain brings on certain cases of bruxism. Various medications, notably some antidepressants, can bring on bruxism.

If there is a family history of bruxism, your chance of acquiring the condition will be increased. Both men and women tend to have symptoms at approximately the same rate. However, your risk increases if you smoke or consume alcohol. Smokers and drinkers are nearly twice as likely to experience bruxism than nonsmokers and nondrinkers. In general, bruxism risk decreases with age.

What Causes Bruxism and How Is It Treated?

During routine dental checkups, dentists regularly check their patients’ teeth for symptoms of bruxism. Even before the patient notices any symptoms, a dentist can point out tooth degradation and suggest that the patient might be bruxing. 

Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you have not visited a dentist in a while and think you may suffer from bruxism. They will consider both the outcomes of the oral examination and your symptoms to decide if you are grinding your teeth.

There are various ways to cure bruxism, including:

• Mouth guards- Wearing a mouth guard at night can decrease the effect of your bite and avoid injury. 

• Behavior changes- You may learn how to rest your lips, tongue, and teeth to reduce pain and the need for grinding your teeth. 
• Bite adjustment- Your bite, or the connection between your top and bottom teeth, can be changed to reduce the likelihood of grinding.