When I first got married, the most difficult thing for me to get used to about my husband wasn’t the dirty laundry strewn about the apartment or the used dishes left in the living room…it was his snoring. It would keep me up at night and I would gently nudge him at first, hoping to get him to stop. When it didn’t work, I’d be forced to wake him up and beg him to stop. This resulted in many nights of poor sleep for both of us (sorry honey!).
If you think snoring is the worst offense you can commit during sleep, you’d be wrong. Where snoring can be bothersome to your partner, there is something you may be doing in your sleep that is far more damaging and that is grinding your teeth. Do you grind your teeth?
Most people who grind their teeth during sleep aren’t aware they do so, but there are some telltale signs of teeth grinding. According to the Michigan Dental Association (MDA), “If you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw or even a headache and your teeth seem to be getting more sensitive to heat and cold, you need to consider the possibility that you’re a nighttime tooth grinder.”
The technical term your dentist uses for teeth grinding is “bruxism” and the MDA reports that up to 50 percent of the population is affected by teeth grinding. Teeth grinding means you clench your teeth together while you’re sleeping and grind them together. Your partner may be able to hear your teeth grinding, you can ask them to take a peek at you during the night. Teeth grinding can be a serious problem that can lead to pain and damage to your teeth and gums. Your dentist will be able to tell if you’re a tooth grinder by examining your teeth and looking for worn away enamel.
The MDA lists several effects of teeth grinding on their website (www.SmileMichigan.com):
“pain and damage to the gums and teeth;
- sore facial muscles, headaches and earaches;
- teeth so ground down they become shortened;
- the enamel can wear away, causing teeth to become more sensitive to heat and cold;
- the pressure from grinding can fracture teeth and crack fillings; and
- damage to the TMJ, which is the small joint that connects the lower jaw to the upper jaw allowing you to chew and talk”
Your dentist can help you if he or she determines that you are in fact a teeth grinder. Often a custom made mouthguard worn nightly will help you to stop any damage teeth grinding can cause your teeth.
If you suspect you may be a teeth grinder or are experiencing any of the telltale symptoms, please call your dentist today to set up an appointment. If it’s time to find a new dentist for yourself or your family, you can find a local member of the Michigan Dental Association at
www.SmileMichigan.com.
Bright Side Dental is a dental group with locations in Sterling Heights, Livonia, Canton, and Royal Oak, Michigan. Visit www.BrightSideDental.com.
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