Do you sometimes wake up in the morning with a dull headache and tooth pain? If so, you may be suffering from a condition known as bruxism, where you involuntarily clench or grind your teeth at night. What is this, and is there anything you can do about it?

Jaw Clenching

Many people suffer from bruxism, but its cause is not always clear. For some reason, sufferers will clench their jaw at stages during their sleep cycle or may grind them back and forth vigorously.

Understanding Bruxism

Bruxism can be mild or significant and can lead to damage in the worst case. The enamel can be worn away, while you may also flatten out your teeth over the long term. Some people report chips, fractures or even loose teeth and may require significant remedial work.

When you have some existing dental restorations in one part of your mouth, your bruxism may cause additional damage to the opposing teeth. After all, natural teeth tend to be a little softer than an artificial restoration.

Others just wake up in the morning with tired jaw muscles or slight pain in the temples. They may develop sores on the inside of their cheek as they inadvertently chew that area when they are grinding.

Lifestyle Changes

You may be able to reduce your risk for bruxism by making some lifestyle changes. Some experts believe that drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco may have an effect, while if you can, reduce levels of stress in your daily life.

Asking the Expert

If your bruxism has caused damage to your teeth or if you often wake up with a toothache, then you should certainly talk with a dentist as soon as possible. They will be able to give you a full examination and see whether other conditions may be contributory. They may also recommend that you consider wearing a nightguard.

Wearing a Guard

These types of mouthguards are custom-made for the individual so that they fit correctly and without too much disruption. They will keep the teeth apart even though you may inadvertently try to grind them, thereby cutting down on the potential damage and helping to eliminate that toothache.

Getting Relief

So, while you try to make some adjustments to your lifestyle to see if that helps, get some relief from your dentist. Discuss the symptoms during an appointment and see if a nightguard could be part of the solution to your bruxism.