Do you find that you wake in the morning with dull headaches? Are your jaw muscles sore? Do your teeth feel sensitive, loose, or even show signs of fracture? If so, then you may have bruxism, a condition where you grind and clench your teeth while you sleep. How did you develop this problem? Here are a few common causes of bruxism:
- Anxiety is the most common cause of bruxism. When you are stressed throughout the day, you may unconsciously deal with it by grinding your teeth at night.
- Missing teeth, an abnormal bite, or crooked teeth can result in teeth grinding because they irritate and strain the mouth and jaw.
- Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, have been linked to bruxism. Though doctors and researchers are unsure of the reason for this connection, evidence suggests that there is one.
- Stimulants like tobacco and caffeine can result in nocturnal teeth grinding and clenching because they cause stress.
- In more rare cases, bruxism can result because of diseases in the facial nerves and muscles. Another rare cause of bruxism is that it could be a side effect of certain medications.
We invite you to visit Werschky, Lewis & Slatton Family Dentistry if you suffer from bruxism. By dealing with the causes of your teeth grinding, our dentist will help to cure it.