Bruxism

Do you wake up with jaw pain, headaches, or other uncomfortable symptoms that you don't know the cause of? You may have bruxism, a condition that causes teeth grinding and clenching. Fortunately, you have treatment options. Dr. Douglas Pohl in Fort Walton Beach, FL, can diagnose and treat bruxism to relieve your discomfort and improve your quality of life.

Bruxism and TMJ Disorders Understanding the Difference

Bruxism is often discussed alongside TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. While bruxism can cause a patient to develop a TMJ disorder, the conditions differ.

Sleep Bruxism

Sleep bruxism causes patients to clench and grind their teeth while they sleep. You may wake up with jaw pain, headaches, and other bruxism symptoms but not realize you have the condition, as it doesn't affect you during the day.

Awake Bruxism

Awake bruxism occurs during the day. Patients with awake bruxism clench and grind their teeth while concentrating on work or when overwhelmed by stress. This form of bruxism can also be hard to recognize in the moment.

TMJ Disorder

A TMJ disorder occurs when the jaw joints become inflamed. This is typically caused by an imbalanced bite, but it can also be caused by bruxism. If you grind your teeth to the point of jaw joint inflammation, you may develop a TMJ disorder.

Symptoms of Bruxism

Grinding and clenching from bruxism can cause overexertion of your jaw muscles and lead to wear and tear on your teeth. Our dentist, Douglas Pohl, frequently treats this issue for patients at Fort Walton Beach, FL, office. If you have any of the following symptoms, contact us for a bruxism screening.

Risk Factors For Developing Bruxism

Grinding and clenching can develop as a response to increased dopamine levels and stress. They can also result from genetic factors entirely out of your control. These are a few factors that make you more likely to develop bruxism:

Treatment Can Be Simple For Patients With Bruxism

Once we diagnose your bruxism, we'll begin with non-invasive dental treatment. These methods are often enough to manage and treat the condition, preventing further wear and tear on teeth.

Nightguard

Wearing a nightguard to bed is ideal for patients with sleep bruxism. We can customize a nightguard that cushions your top and bottom teeth when you clench or grind your jaws. This prevents dental damage and alleviates the pressure put on the jaw muscles as a result of teeth grinding.

Call to Learn About Nightguards

Physical Therapy

Patients with awake bruxism may benefit more from physical therapy. This can teach you how to recognize the symptoms of bruxism, as well as exercises to relax your jaw and avoid teeth grinding.

Call to Discuss Physical Therapy

Lifestyle Changes

Certain lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, managing stress levels, and reducing caffeine intake, can greatly reduce the symptoms of bruxism, like grinding and clenching the teeth.

Request a Bruxism Consultation