Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is one of the oral health conditions that many people suffer from but are unaware of. According to a recent report, one in three people suffers from teeth grinding or bruxism.
One of the many reasons people do not notice it is that it is an involuntary reaction – sometimes, it happens during sleep. This condition raises problems with the teeth as it can wear down the enamel and expose the deeper layer of the tooth.
What is teeth grinding?
Teeth grinding is a condition where a patient unconsciously clenches their teeth, whether awake or asleep. Essentially, these conditions fall under two categories – mild and sleep bruxism.
Unlike mild bruxism, which may not require treatment and can be solved with night guards, sleep bruxism is considered a more complex case. When an individual has sleep bruxism, it causes them to experience certain sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea.
Among the symptoms of teeth grinding includes the following:
- Should, neck and jaw pain (this may lead to temporomandibular disorder)
- Chipped tooth
- Earache
- Headache
- Problems with sleeping
How do teeth grinding cause headaches?
Experiencing headaches and migraines is one of the most common effects of bruxism for many people. And what triggers these recurring headaches has something to do with the force we put in when we clench and grind our teeth.
When we unconsciously grind our teeth, it strains the muscles surrounding the jaw, cheeks, and the side of our head. Once the muscles get overworked, it leads to the throbbing headache pain we experience.
If you start to notice any of these symptoms, it would be great to pay your dentist in Colorado Springs a visit. They should be able to provide you with the necessary treatments to stop the headaches.
Here at Crossroads Family Dentistry, we make it our duty to educate our clients and assess the underlying oral condition causing their headaches.
To learn more about us, you can visit our website or call (719) 596-3481 to book an appointment.