Teeth grinding (nocturnal bruxism) during sleep is more common that you think. People who grind their teeth may develop a number of problems, including cavities, loose teeth, jaw pain, jawclicking, restriction of mouth opening, headaches in the morning when they awaken, and chipped teeth, just to name a few. Teeth grinding during sleep can also be a sign of apnea or narcolepsy.
There is medical treatment for nocturnal bruxism. Treatment generally involves diagnosing and treating another sleep disorder, which could be causing your bruxism, or treating the bruxism itself. It is important to not only protect teeth that may be suffering damage, but also to protect the jaw joints that may be wearing out as a consequence of the grinding.
Dr. RV Ghuge is a board certified sleep physician. He can help diagnose your nocturnal bruxism and its causes and treat it appropriately. If your dentist has told you that you have bruxism, or if you think that you may be suffering from some its symptoms, please call 903-787-7533 or click HERE to begin the process of scheduling a personalized consultation with us at the Sleep Medicine Institute of Texas.
