Do you suffer from teeth grinding? What are Bruxism Symptoms?
It is vital to know what bruxism symptoms look (or sound) like. One study estimates that one in three people suffer from bruxism. Bruxism can vary in severity from infrequent clenching to outright mashing. Around 10% of bruxism sufferers, grind so hard their teeth are reduced to nubs. This leads to a complete reconstructive makeover that can start at 25,000 dollars.
Bruxism Symptoms:
- Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of tooth
- Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured or chipped
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Headache
- Jaw Pain upon waking
- Chronic facial pain
- Muscle tightness
- Ear ache – because of severe jaw muscle contractions
- Temporomandibular Joint: pain, symptoms, and treatments
Moderate to severe sleep bruxism, if left alone, can result in jaw pain known as Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) pain, headaches, worn, fracture and loose teeth and gum recession. Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint(s) that causes signs and symptoms including ear pain, bite problems, headaches, dizziness, clicking sounds in the jaw, tinnitus and/or locked jaws.
An assortment of symptoms can be linked to TMJ disorders. Pain, particularly in the chewing muscles and/or jaw joint, is the most common symptom.
Other likely symptoms include:
- jaw muscle stiffness
- radiating pain in the face, jaw, or neck
- limited movement or locking of the jaw
- painful clicking, grating or popping in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth
- a change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
If your teeth are worn, damaged or sensitive, or if you suffer from pain in your face or jaw, contact our office today.