In the evenings, we expect to be able to relax, dream softly, and renew for the next day. However, teeth grinding isn’t the case. It may result in pain, tooth issues, and tiredness when you wake up.
You’ll likely deal with consequences beyond tooth pain and damage when you deal with teeth grinding or bruxism.
Dr. Floretta Cuffey-Terry, president of Robert T. Freeman Dental Society, said, “Your dental health can affect your medical health.” An onslaught of stress may accompany chronic tooth-grinding issues.
Experts share the signs and suggested solutions for grinding your teeth at night.
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Headaches
Dr. Albert Coombs said grinding your teeth during sleep leads to headaches due to pressure in your mouth and jaw. He explained that these headaches are your body’s way of adjusting to the pressure overnight. In general, tooth-grinding headaches occur around the temples.
Jaw Pain
Cuffey-Terry said you might wake up with headaches and pain around your mouth muscles. You may feel this pain for a few minutes to a few hours, but it will worsen in the mornings. It is not normal to wake up with jaw pain automatically, so see your dentist if you experience this.
Tooth Pain
Teeth pain or soreness in the morning could be caused by bruxism; it seems obvious.
Clinical associate professor Marjan Moghadam noted that toothaches clearly indicate teeth grinding. It’s time to call the dentist.
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Pre-pandemic Teeth Grinding Is More Common Now
You probably understand how stressful it has been to live through a pandemic.
Coombs said National Institutes of Health research in 2020 showed bruxism is linked to stress. Stress can manifest itself in many ways, including grinding your teeth. “There are signs of bruxism in 95% of people under immense stress.”
Dentists Can Diagnose Grinding Teeth
Dr. Moghadam advises seeking professional help if you grind your teeth at night. A dentist can help you determine the best next steps and treatments, such as mouthguards and muscle relaxers. Moghadam said, “The dentist can examine and evaluate the signs and symptoms to rule out any other issue — such as dental infection or other habits that could be contributing.”