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Teeth Grinding Causes & Treatments for Bruxism

Have you recently become aware that you grind your teeth? Or perhaps you’ve noticed that your partner or child grinds their teeth while they sleep? Regular teeth grinding is a condition called bruxism.

Bruxism is a fairly common condition that’s thought to affect around 1 in every 12.5 adults and a little less than 1 in every 3 children. Grinding your teeth is not always a serious condition but it can sometimes lead to severe symptoms and dental problems.

Understanding what causes bruxism and being able to identify the symptoms are the first steps towards getting the correct treatment. Whether you’re concerned that you may have bruxism, or you’re looking for more information for a loved one, then keep reading to learn more about the condition & how it’s treated. For more information on  teeth grinding prevention & stopping Nocturnal Bruxism: “Back Off the Grind: Stop Nocturnal Bruxism

Unconscious Pressure: Hacks for Overnight Teeth Grinding

Understanding Bruxism

One of the most important things to know about bruxism is that there are two types: awake bruxism and sleep bruxism. Both types of bruxism are essentially the same, but they’re normally brought on by different causes.

Awake bruxism is when you subconsciously grind or gnash your teeth while you’re awake. Sleep bruxism, or nocturnal tooth grinding, is grinding or clenching that occurs while you’re asleep.

Like many conditions, bruxism can vary in severity. Mild cases of bruxism are unlikely to require much in the way of treatment, whilst severe cases need effective treatment to prevent serious dental problems from occurring.

Bruxism is not a life-threatening condition, but it can be very difficult to live with. If not treated quickly and effectively, bruxism can lead to complications that can have a greater impact on your health.

Bruxism Symptoms to Look Out For

A clear sign that you have bruxism is a frequent grinding, clenching, or gnashing of your teeth. However, as bruxism is very common during sleep, this may not be immediately noticeable unless someone alerts you to the sound.

There are a number of symptoms of bruxism that can help you to identify whether you or a loved one has the condition, these include:

  • Tooth sensitivity or pain
  • Soreness in the cheek from chewing
  • Headaches or earaches
  • Stiffness and pain around the jaw
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Pain in the neck and face
  • Worn or flattened teeth
  • Fractured or chipped teeth/fillings

The symptoms of bruxism may not become apparent until the condition worsens, and even then, you may not experience all/any of them. In the worst cases, the wear on teeth can be so severe that patients need extensive dental work to restore function.

The Main Causes of Bruxism

It’s not always easy to determine the reason why an individual has bruxism, as there are a large number of possible causes. One of the first steps during a diagnosis is to determine whether you have sleep bruxism or awake bruxism, as often, the causes are very different.

Awake bruxism is often rooted in your emotions at the time, which may cause you to unconsciously grind your teeth. Emotions that can cause awake bruxism include anger, stress, frustration, and anxiety. Deep concentration can also cause bruxism.

Emotions can cause sleep bruxism, but it can also be the result of:

  • An abnormal bite
  • Crooked teeth
  • Missing teeth
  • A sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea or sleep paralysis
  • Talking or violent behavior during sleep
  • Semi-conscious hallucinations

Further causes of bruxism and factors that can increase risk include:

  • Lifestyle choices, such as smoking, recreational drug use, high caffeine intake, and alcohol
  • Taking certain medications, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
  • A family history of bruxism
  • Medical and mental health disorders, including dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease

Visiting a local gurnee dentist is one of the best ways to get an accurate diagnosis of the cause of bruxism.

Teeth Grinding Treatment Options  for Bruxism– Everything You Need to Know

Bruxism can become very damaging to your teeth, potentially leading to fractures or tooth loss. The condition can also damage your jaw and alter your facial appearance, so getting treatment early on is important.

The options available to treat bruxism are almost as varied as the causes of the condition. If bruxism is rooted in another condition, such as a sleep disorder, then treating the disorder will likely reduce teeth grinding.

If stress or anxiety is the cause of bruxism, then cognitive behavioral therapy may be advised, along with relaxation activities like yoga or massage before sleep. It’s also possible to reduce teeth grinding by learning how to correctly position the jaw and mouth, and by changing habits, such as by stopping the clenching or grinding of teeth as soon as it’s noticed.

Other common treatments for bruxism include:

  • Mouth Guards and Splints – Splints and mouth guards are a common dental approach to treating bruxism. These are used to keep teeth separate and reduce the damage that grinding causes.
  • Restorative Dental Procedures – When dental problems are the cause of bruxism, restorative treatments are often used to help stop the grinding. If the condition has caused serious damage to teeth, then corrective dental work may be required. Crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures can help to restore function and appearance.
  • Medication – Over-the-counter pain relief can be used to reduce some symptoms. Medication to treat anxiety or stress can help if these problems are the root cause of an individual’s bruxism. In some instances, a doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants to be used before sleep in the short term.

There are also ways to treat bruxism at home, such as reducing alcohol and caffeinated food and drink intake, giving up smoking and recreational drugs, and avoiding chewing gum.


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Customized Dental Plants - Beautiful Smiles Dental Center in Gurnee IL

Customized Dental Plans – Beautiful Smiles Dental Center in Gurnee, IL

Could you imagine visiting the dentist and having no say in the treatment that you receive? You certainly wouldn’t be very happy about the experience if you went in for a routine check-up, only to come out with a new set of dentures or were fitted for a brace that you didn’t want!

When you visit a Dentist in Gurnee, IL, you expect a personalized service with treatments that you actually need … but what if you could go one step further to customize your experience?

Customized dental plans give you the power to tailor your dental experience to your exact requirements, and not just in the treatments that you choose or need. With dental plans you can completely transform your experience with the dentist, save yourself time, and get the treatment that you require without having to wait or pay the full price.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it may surprise you just how many people experience the benefits of a dental plan first-hand, every single day. If you’ve never heard of a customized dental plan before, or you’ve been stuck on the fence debating whether it’s the right choice for your family, then keep on reading to learn how customized dental plans can save you time and money…

How Does a Dental Plan Work?

Almost a quarter of the US population – about 74 million people – are living without dental insurance. Visiting the dentist without insurance can leave you with a large bill, unless you have another plan in place.

Dental plans are an affordable alternative to classic dental insurance; they’re incredibly flexible and you can easily customize your coverage. A dental plan works very simply: you sign up to a plan, pay an annual membership fee, and enjoy large discounts on your dental treatment at a number of participating dental practices.

It couldn’t be easier to sign up to a dental plan, and there are a lot to choose from! You can pick a plan based on participating dental practices in Gurnee, IL you can search based on the procedures that you know you’ll need, or you could go solely on the amount of money that you’ll save, and pick a plan that drastically reduces your dental costs.

If you live in Gurnee, IL, then there are plenty of different dental plans that you can choose from to customize coverage to your needs. Different plans offer different levels of coverage for an array of dental services, so you could tailor your dental plan for savings on treatments like:

Preventive Treatments

  • Dental Check-ups
  • Oral Exams
  • X-Rays
  • Teeth Cleaning
  • Sealants
  • Fluoride Treatments

Restorative & Specialist Treatments

Cosmetic Treatments

Can a Customized Dental Plan Really Save You Money?

The simple answer is yes! You can enjoy some incredible savings when you choose a dental plan at your local Gurnee dental practice, and here are just some of the ways how:

  • Less Expensive– Dental plans are typically much more affordable than insurance premiums – you can expect to pay out a lot less on an annual basis to be part of a dental plan!
  • Reduced Rates– The amount that you’ll save on procedures varies from plan to plan, but you can normally expect most plans to reduce the cost of dental treatments by between 10% and 60%.
  • Get the Treatment You Need– With a custom dental plan, you’re saving money on the treatments that you’re most likely to need, not paying more for treatments you may never require!
  • No Annual Limits– Unlike insurance premiums, there’s normally no limit on the amount of money that you can save each year with a dental plan. You can keep saving money on each treatment throughout the year, no matter when you need it or how extensive the work is. There are also no lifetime limits to worry about with dental plans.
  • No Deductibles– Dental plans don’t have deductibles, so you won’t have to meet a deductible before you can start saving money on treatments.

With customized dental plans, not only are you paying out less each month, but the discounts you receive can be used throughout the year with no limits on how much you can save!

What About Time? How Is it Faster to Use a Customized Dental Plan?

A customized dental plan is not only a good choice for your family because of the financial savings, it’s also an excellent option if you don’t want to wait for the dental treatment that you need!

  • No Paperwork– Hate the paperwork that comes attached to dental insurance? With a dental plan, you won’t have to deal with the hassle of paperwork!
  • No Wait Times– When you choose a dental plan, your coverage starts almost immediately, so you can start saving from day one in some cases – no more waiting for your insurance to kick in!
  • Get Treatment When You Want– Instead of being limited to a certain number of treatments every year and having to wait for those treatment times to roll around, you can save money on as many treatments of the same kind as you want.

Everything works a bit faster when you have a dental plan in place, which means that you don’t need to be worried about getting dental treatment when you need it, instead of just when your insurance covers it!

Discover More About Dental Plans in Gurnee, IL

If you’re intrigued by the idea of a customized dental plan, then there’s no better place to turn to for more information than your local dentist. You can call or visit the Beautiful Smiles Dental Center in Gurnee, IL at any time to talk to us about the dental plans that we participate in, and how you can start saving money on your dental treatment today!


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Back Off the Grind: Stop Nocturnal Bruxism

We know only too well how bad teeth grinding can be and if you currently suffer from this nightmare of a problem, we sympathize with you. However, the great news is that just by clicking and reading this article you are already closer to discovering some of the best ways to stop the discomfort and pain caused by grinding your teeth.

 

Teeth grinding, or nocturnal bruxism as it is also known, is a condition where you unintentionally and in a lot of cases, unconsciously grind your teeth together. It affects well in excess of a million adults and children across the world and if you suffer from this condition, you will understand just how badly it can play havoc with your life and health.

 

In the following article, you will get to know some really powerful and helpful tips and advice to stop you grinding your teeth. Before we bite into those though, it is best to help you understand better why you actually grind your teeth.

 

What Causes Teeth Grinding – Particularly At Night?

 

There are two main types of teeth grinding –

Daytime/Awake bruxism: Daytime bruxism is typically connected to tension, stress and anxiety

Night-time/Asleep bruxism: Night-time bruxism on the other hand is more likely connected to a chewing action related to sleep.

 

Although there is a wide array of different views and opinions in the medical world as to what causes teeth grinding, most suggest that it is mainly associated with anxiety and stress. Further to this though, teeth grinding has also been associated with sleeping position or style changes, problems with teeth alignment, heredity-related factors and other problems with biting.

 

Headaches, Migraines, Anxiety And Teeth Grinding

 

As well as causing the obvious issues such as the filing down of your teeth, muscular tension in your jaw, tooth sensitivity and toothache; teeth grinding can also be responsible for causing excruciatingly painful migraines and headaches. While you are grinding your teeth, your jaw is unlikely to be positioned correctly, which will make the muscles in your jaw suffer fatigue and become more susceptible to it.

 

As your jaw muscles use a lot of energy and strength moving your jaw, when fatigue sets in muscle contraction could occur which leads to the migraines and headaches noted above. If you grind or clench your teeth though, you are also putting yourself in danger of suffering from stiff neck muscles. This itself can trigger headaches and lead to feelings of anxiety and stress.

 

Sleep Apnea And Other Sleep Disorders And Teeth Grinding

 

overnight grinding, teeth grinding, dental health

 

Snoring and sleeping disorders like sleep apnea, where there are pauses in your breathing are other reported causes for teeth clenching and grinding. If you know your teeth grinding is related to a sleep disorder, there is a very simple 2 step plan you can follow:

 

Speak to a sleep disorder specialist – Arrange an appointment, or ask your general practitioner for a referral to a sleep disorder specialist so you can find out if you have sleep apnea or not and to what extent. Once you know for sure that you do suffer from sleep apnea and it is likely to be the cause of your teeth grinding, you need to make an appointment with your dentist.

 

Get treatment from a qualified dentist – If you want to stop suffering the painful effects of jaw clenching and teeth grinding, you need to have professional treatment from a qualified dental practitioner. It can be very helpful, because not only can you find out the best oral appliances to use such as splints and mouth guards, that can help you stop your night-time teeth grinding, you will also get great tips and advice for oral health care. Mouth guards are devices used in orthodontics that you attach to your teeth before you go to sleep at night and prevent you from grinding your teeth unconsciously. They also help to alleviate a lot of the discomfort and pain that comes from excessive clenching, tension and friction.

 

How To Stop Bruxism In Its Tracks

 

As noted earlier, it is not only sleep disorders that are considered a cause for teeth grinding; anxiety and stress are two other factors that are also thought to be responsible. The following are DIY home remedies and techniques that can help children and adults alike to stop grinding their teeth.

 

  1. Arrange For Stress And Anxiety Counseling

 

If you discover that stress and anxiety are the main reasons why you grind your teeth, you should look for ways to manage your stress levels. Ask your medical practitioner or even your dentist for any advice they can give. It is also a good idea to participate in physical therapy sessions and exercise groups that can help alleviate stress or at least manage it better. Massage and stretching can be used to relax your muscles, releasing a lot of the tension from your body and reducing your stress.

 

You could also arrange to have some one on one anxiety and stress counseling. Often, your stress builds up because you feel dragged down by various pressures and responsibilities in life. Talking with someone impartial, who is not a friend or relative with a vested interest in your life, can help you to make sense of your anxiety.

 

  1. Start Relaxing Your Jaw Muscles Every Night Before You Sleep

 

It may help to make it a habit of relaxing your muscles at night before you go to sleep. You can do this by placing a warmed piece of cloth on the side of your face. This particular method is more effective with people who grind their teeth as a result of an acute situation, such as a broken or otherwise injured jaw.

 

  1. Yoga And Meditation

 

Meditation and stretching exercises of yoga are other ways that people often use to reduce their stress and anxiety levels. They are actually very effective when it comes to tackling teeth grinding issues. This is because not only do they lessen tension throughout the body but they also reduce muscle activity too.

 

  1. Work Hard At It

 

To stop grinding your teeth, you need to put considerable amounts of personal effort into the process. You have to teach yourself to stop doing it – in a similar way to how muscle memory training works. Always try to make sure that the tip of your tongue sits between your teeth, as this will enable the muscles in your jaw to relax. It is also important to stop or at least reduce habits that involve you clenching your jaw, such as chewing gum.

 

  1. Reduce The Amount Of Caffeine And Alcoholic Drinks You Consume

 

As strange as it may seem at first, there are many who believe that there is a connection between consuming caffeinated and alcoholic drinks and teeth grinding. There is evidence that shows that teeth grinding and clenching becomes more intense after these kinds of drinks have been consumed.

 

While it is true that caffeine does not cause teeth grinding directly, it certainly is a contributory factor that makes it worse. This is mainly because caffeine increases your awareness and alertness levels. Thus, if you are experiencing bouts of stress and anxiety already and drinking large quantities of caffeine, coffee and other drinks like it, will only heighten those feelings, leading to teeth grinding.







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