Teeth Grinding Treatment at East Bentleigh Dental Group

Stop the Pain of Teeth Grinding in its Tracks with Effective Treatment

If you continually wake up with a sore jaw and experience other symptoms such as tooth sensitivity, you may be grinding your teeth in your sleep. If left untreated, teeth grinding can lead to tooth damage, headache, jaw pain and other negative effects. Fortunately, East Bentleigh Dental Group offers a number of teeth grinding treatment options to prevent grinding teeth in sleep. If you suspect you might be grinding your teeth, make an appointment at our clinic today. We can help to minimise damage to your teeth and provide relief from the pain and discomfort caused by teeth grinding.

The Signs & Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is a common affliction that can cause moderate discomfort to the lives of sufferers. Brought about by the grinding of teeth in sleep, painful symptoms can affect the jaw and teeth, making it difficult to talk, chew and speak.

If you’re grinding your teeth in sleep, you may experience:

• Unexplained damage to your teeth
• A painful jaw that’s worse in the mornings
• Headaches
• Increased tooth sensitivity

If you notice any of these signs, make an appointment to discover the teeth grinding treatments available.

What Causes a Person to Grind Their Teeth?

Teeth grinding can be caused by a range of different factors, including biological, psychological and external factors. This means everything from genetics and personality traits through to smoking and drinking alcohol can lead to the grinding of teeth in sleep. Stress is also a common factor. Your dentist can help to determine what the likely cause of your teeth grinding is and suggest lifestyle changes to minimise its occurrence.

How to Prevent Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding can be prevented by making efforts to reduce stress and anxiety in your day-to-day life. Practicing relaxation techniques can relieve tension, helping to relax muscles and prevent jaw clenching and grinding. Wearing a custom mouthguard or dental splint can also prevent teeth grinding by holding the teeth apart while you sleep.

Treatment Options at EBDG – Custom Mouthguards, Injectables & More

At East Bentleigh Dental Group, we offer a range of treatments to help prevent teeth grinding and alleviate its negative effects on the teeth and jaw. Available options include:

• Custom mouthguards − Worn at night, a custom mouthguard designed for your mouth can absorb the impact of your grinding and prevent damage to your teeth
• Gelb splint – A Gelb splint can assist in relaxing the muscles and changing the position of the jaw to alleviate symptoms of teeth grinding.
• Relaxation techniques − If stress is causing your teeth grinding, you may be recommended relaxation techniques to practice at night before going to bed
• Muscle relaxants − Muscle relaxants may be prescribed to help relax the muscles in the jaw and prevent teeth grinding
• Injectables − Injectables can help to relax tense, painful facial muscles, leading to a reduction in teeth grinding

Home Remedies for Teeth Grinding

To alleviate the tension that causes teeth grinding at home, you may find it useful to try mindfulness or meditation. Gently massaging the jaw, neck and shoulders may also help to reduce tension that leads to grinding.

FAQs

Does stress have a big impact on teeth grinding while asleep?

Yes, stress is one of the biggest contributing factors when it comes to teeth grinding during sleep. Other causes of night-time grinding can include the consumption of caffeine and the use of certain medications.

How can I stop myself from grinding my teeth in my sleep?

You can take steps to stop grinding your teeth in your sleep by minimising consumption of stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, relaxing your jaw before bed, and holding a warm compress against the area to help loosen tight muscles. Our dentist will be able to recommend further solutions for preventing teeth grinding at night.

Is there a permanent solution to teeth grinding?

This can depend on the specific cause of teeth grinding. In some cases, it might be possible to identify a cause that can be treated to stop teeth grinding for good. In other cases, ongoing treatment will be necessary to manage the condition over time.

Why is grinding your teeth considered bad?

Grinding your teeth is bad for various reasons. Not only does it cause damage to the teeth itself in the form of worn down enamel and cracks in the teeth, but it can also lead to significant jaw pain and TMD.

What medications do you recommend for bruxism?

As every individual is different, the causes of bruxism can vary from person to person. Some patients may benefit from a medical treatment, and if this is the case, our dentist will recommend a suitable option after examining your teeth.

How can you relieve tooth pain from grinding?

If you’re experiencing tooth pain as a result of grinding, you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. A filling or other restorative treatment may be necessary to repair damage done to the teeth. Your dentist can also make a custom mouthguard that can be worn to relieve the pain caused by teeth grinding.

Experience Relief from Teeth Grinding Today

If you’re seeking relief from the painful symptoms of teeth grinding, make an appointment with East Bentleigh Dental Group today.