Are you searching for solutions to “grinding teeth in sleep”? If you are, then you have reached the right article. This article will talk about solutions to grinding teeth in sleep as well as shed some light on sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that may be linked with teeth grinding. After reading the article, you can visit www.sleepclinicmelbourne.com.au/bruxism-causes for more information about teeth grinding.
Bruxism
Bruxism is the name given to the sleep disorder that has people grinding their teeth at night when they are asleep. There is no definitive cause of teeth grinding, but many experts link it to stress, too much alcohol intake right before bed and being overweight or obese.
The most common cause of bruxism is stress and anxiety. If a person is anxious and stressed out about something, they will be at higher risk for developing teeth grinding habits. Stress and anxiety can be managed, and once a person gets treated for these conditions, they will also lower their risk of having teeth grinding episodes at night.
Many who have bruxism also have sleep apnea. This is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing indefinitely while they are asleep. It can be extremely dangerous if it is left untreated. The good news is that both bruxism and sleep apnea are treatable.
How To Cure Bruxism
People who have had a diagnosis for bruxism and sleep apnea have a variety of treatment methods that can be used to get over these conditions. Here is a list of possible treatment methods people can opt for when they seek medical help for teeth grinding.
Mouth guards For Bruxism
There are special mouth guards that can be custom made to help people with tooth grinding problems. Many people who suffer from bruxism also snore. Snoring can also be stopped with these mouth guards. The mouth guards help hold the tongue and other soft tissues in place as well as act as a barrier between the upper and lower teeth, to prevent the person from having their teeth grind against each other.
CPAP Machines
This machine, also known as a continues positive airway pressure machine helps people who have sleep apnea. It can also help with the snoring that these people may also suffer from. However, the main purpose of a CPAP machine is to help people who have sleep apnea breathe more effectively as they sleep.
Lifestyle Changes
People who usually suffer from bruxism and sleep apnea are obese. This condition may bring about many different challenges and complications in a person’s health. If a person decides to lose weight, eat the right food and live a healthier lifestyle, the grinding of teeth in sleep at night, as well as the sleep apnea, will also come to a stop.
Avoiding heavy alcohol consumption right before a person goes to sleep is a good lifestyle change to make to help with a teeth grinding problem. Since many cases of bruxism are linked with drinking alcohol before going to bed, avoiding it will help a person reach their goal of getting rid of teeth grinding as well.
The secondary problems such as snoring will also benefit from lifestyle changes. Most of the time, the sound of snoring is caused by excess and relaxed muscles and tissue hanging and blocking the airway as the person sleeps. If a person makes an effort to lose weight, the excess tissue will also lessen, and so will the snoring.
Surgery
If all fails, a person may opt to get surgery to help them with their teeth grinding problem as well as their sleep apnea. Surgery can be done to the areas that have excess tissues that cause blockage in a person’s airway. This will also help with their teeth grinding problem.
How To Tell If You Have Bruxism
It is not always easy to determine for sure if you are teeth grinding as you sleep. If you live alone, you will not be told that you were having an episode of bruxism. So how will it be possible for you to know that you have bruxism?
Luckily, there are telltale signs one can look out for to know if they suffer from bruxism. Here is a list of the most common of those symptoms.
Earaches And Headaches
People who suffer from bruxism may have earaches and headaches because of the pressure that is placed on the jawbone when a person grinds their teeth. These pains in the head are usually concentrated in the part near the ear and along the jaw line.
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain may also be present because of the same reason stated with headaches. The pain in the jaw may also result in toothaches.
Disrupted Sleep
If a person is grinding their teeth at night, they may also expect to have disrupted sleep patterns. They may wake up unexpectedly during the night and may experience difficulties falling back asleep. The pain and discomfort they feel may be to blame for their disrupted sleep. Also, if the grinding of teeth is severe, the person may be able to hear the sounds of their teeth grinding against each other. This may be another cause for them to have disrupted sleep.
If you have disrupted sleep, it may not always mean that you have bruxism. It is important to take note of the other symptoms to look out for when you are trying to determine if you have bruxism or not.
Tooth Sensitivity
If teeth are subjected to grinding often, it is only a matter of time before they become worn out. Worn down teeth may become sensitive because the nerves and other more delicate parts of the tooth will be exposed because of bruxism. If you feel pain or discomfort when you drink hot or cold beverage or eat foods of extreme temperatures as well, it may be a sign of teeth grinding.
What To Do?
If you think that you may be suffering from bruxism but are not entirely sure, you are not alone. You may notice some of the signs that have been mentioned but may still not be 100% sure that you have the teeth grinding disorder or not.
The most logical thing is to approach your dentist. They will be able to analyze your teeth and look for the signs that will help them diagnose if you have bruxism or not. Seeing your dentist will help you avoid potential oral problems that will develop because of bruxism and it will also help you avoid experiencing the dangers of sleep apnea. If you think you have bruxism, see your dentist as soon as you can.