You roll over in bed and realize that your head is throbbing. For no apparent reason, you consistently wake up feeling like there’s a vice on your temples. These unexplained headaches can make it difficult to concentrate on daily tasks, let alone focus on excelling at work or playing with your kids the way you want to.
Does all this sound eerily familiar to you? Undoubtedly, today’s world can be difficult and stressful; you’re trying to get everyone dropped off and picked up on time, work on your career, get dinner on the table, and still have time for fun activities.
The truth is that with financial stress and other worries, you might be waking up with a sore jaw or a headache.
Let’s take a look at how stress could be breaking your teeth.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a common medical condition where you clench or grind your teeth; it can happen during the day or at night, and you may not even realize you’re doing it. At Harlow Dental, we offer bruxism treatment options so you can alleviate your jaw pain and headaches and decrease the damage to your teeth.
The most common symptoms of bruxism include the following:
- Loud clenching or grinding
- Flat, broken, or chipped teeth
- Worn tooth enamel
- Tooth pain or sensitivity
- A popping or clicking sound when you open your mouth
- Tight or painful jaw muscles
- Inability to open your mouth
- Neck or facial pain
- Ear pain for no apparent reason
- Headaches that start in your temples
- Difficulty sleeping or waking up frequently
Exploring the Causes: What You Need to Know
Although no one is sure exactly what causes bruxism, research from the Mayo Clinic suggests that it could be due to a combination of genetic, mental, and physical concerns.
There are two types of bruxism:
- Awake bruxism — If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw during the day, it could be a sign of stress, anxiety, financial concern, anger, frustration, or tension. It can also occur when you’re concentrating on something.
- Sleep bruxism — As the name implies, this type of bruxism occurs when you’re sleeping. Involuntary clenching or grinding could be due to untreated sleep apnea, stress, or frequent sleep disturbances.
Understanding the Risk Factors
Several risk factors could increase your risk of bruxism.
Research indicates there are some signs to watch for:
- Stress — Life is stressful, and this daily anxiety and concern can lead to grinding or clenching. Also, if you’re angry or frustrated, you might catch yourself clenching your jaw.
- Age — Both children and adults are susceptible to bruxism, so pay attention to what your kids say about their stress levels or if they complain about headaches or jaw pain.
- Personality — If you have a competitive or hyperactive personality, you could be more likely to develop bruxism.
- Habits — Do you bite your cheek or tongue regularly? Or do you chew gum for long periods of time? If so, it could increase your risk of awake bruxism.
- Tobacco and caffeine — Smoking and drinking beverages that contain caffeine could raise your bruxism risk, so it’s best for your oral and overall health to quit smoking and limit your caffeine consumption.
- Family members — Bruxism, especially sleep bruxism, can run in the family. If you are diagnosed with bruxism, other family members could also have it.
- Other conditions — Certain medical or mental health conditions could make you more prone to bruxism, including dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, sleep apnea, and ADHD.
Treatment Options in Charlotte
When you visit our dental office for a consultation, we’ll evaluate your teeth and jaws and talk to you about your symptoms. Once we’ve determined that you have bruxism, here’s how we approach treatment:
- We’ll measure you for a custom mouthguard; it creates a barrier that prevents you from grinding your teeth, decreasing jaw strain.
- If you already have tooth damage, we can create a treatment plan to fix your teeth. This plan might include dental crowns, veneers, or bonding.
- We can recommend certain behavioral modifications to help alleviate your symptoms. Some of these techniques include relaxation exercises, deep breathing, or stress management.
- If we suspect you may have sleep apnea, we can refer you to a sleep specialist. You may be able to wear a nightguard to alleviate this problem.
Looking for Quality Dental Care in Charlotte, NC?
If you’re looking for a dentist in Charlotte or the surrounding area, we’ve got you covered! With three convenient locations to choose from, Harlow Dental is your best choice for quality care. We’ll assess your smile and work with you to customize a treatment plan suited to your goals, timeline, and budget.
You can contact our office at 7th Street at (704) 333-6010, at Steele Creek, you can reach us at (704) 588-1515, and at Eastway, our number is (704) 563-5327.
We look forward to hearing from you!