Waking up with a sore jaw or tension headache?
Bruxism could be the cause.
Bruxism is clenching and grinding of the teeth that happens involuntarily. In sleep bruxism, this forceful grinding happens while a person is asleep. It is most common in children, adolescents, and young adults but can affect people of any age.
During sleep, people generally aren’t aware of their teeth grinding and can apply substantial pressure – up to 250 pounds of force – that can wear down the teeth, cause jaw and neck pain, induce headaches, and lead to long-term problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
While there is no cure to completely stop teeth grinding, treatment can reduce its frequency.
Common causes
Grinding of the teeth can have causes that aren’t due to underlying disease. Examples include an abnormal alignment of the jaw, intense concentration, or situational anxiety (not anxiety disorder).
When should you see a dentist about sleep bruxism?
If you have pain in your mouth, jaw, or neck from grinding your teeth, you should talk with your doctor or dentist. Sleep bruxism can cause serious harm to your oral and sleep health, and a health professional can help prevent more serious problems down the road.
A doctor or dentist can also identify if your teeth grinding occurs alongside other conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may require further testing or treatment.
What treatments are available?
Not everyone with sleep bruxism needs treatment, but when there are frequent symptoms of morning headaches and jaw pain, unrefreshing sleep, or risk for long-term damage to teeth, several treatment options may be considered.
Mouthguards
Mouthguards, sometimes called night guards or dental splints, are worn during sleep to combat teeth grinding. These mouthpieces hold the jaw in a certain position and/or provide a barrier to minimize tooth damage from grinding. Some mouthguards also place the jaw in a slightly open position, allowing the masseter muscles (chewing muscles) to relax all night. Mouth guards may go over the full set of top or bottom teeth or in some cases just cover a smaller section of the patient’s mouth.
Another type of mouthpiece is a mandibular advancement device (MAD), which is best known for its use to reduce chronic snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea.
