Have you ever been told that you grind your teeth at night? Although bruxism is common, it often remains hidden for long periods of time due to the difficulty of spotting its signs and symptoms. If you do suffer from bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, your teeth, gums, and oral health could be at risk.
Spotting the signs and symptoms of bruxism can be hard to do in a larger part because bruxism takes place on an unconscious level. However, the effects of bruxism may be exposed in your facial structure if you look carefully. Within your smile, make sure to look at your teeth to see if they look flatter or more worn than they used to. Because bruxism grinds your teeth, your teeth may have decreased in size or changed slightly in appearance.
Another key mechanism for spotting bruxism is by asking a sleep partner or roommate if they ever hear you grinding or gnashing your teeth while you slumber. Typically, bruxism causes loud sounds when you clench your teeth. Bruxism can also lead to jaw pain that is felt when you wake up, as well as cheek tissue damage on your inner cheeks, earaches, uncommon pain in your ears, a locked jaw, or even indentations or unusual markings on the surface of your tongue.
If you would like to set up an appointment to discuss your possible bruxism treatment, such as a night guard, with Dr. Taylor Massey and our team at Palm Harbor Family Dentistry, please call (727) 786-8302 to set up a visit to our dentist’s office in Palm Harbor, FL. Come on in to learn more about your options to get the bright and healthy smile you’ve always wanted.
