Tooth grinding (bruxism) sounds fairly innocuous but it can lead to a number of serious health problems. I know, I have this problem.
This, along with some injuries, has resulted in TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) on my right side. The pain, which was not isolated to my jaw, brought me very close to the edge of clinical depression. I went to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat specialist) who diagnosed me and sent me to my dentist for a mouth guard that I wear while I sleep. It took less than a week before I noticed a significant improvement. I will have to wear that guard for the rest of my life and it’s unlikely the TMJ will ever go away. It’s not the only treatment, of course, so your doctor or dentist may suggest something different for you, but it was amazing what a small piece of plastic did for me.
The funny thing was I knew that I ground my teeth when I sleep because my wife had noticed it years ago. Unfortunately, it’s something that often takes years to to develop to the point where you notice something is specifically wrong. You might wake up with a headache (I thought I was suffering from sinus problems) or a sore jaw now and then, but that would be about it. But given enough time bruxism can actually damage your teeth and jaw. I caught mine early enough to prevent that but only if I wear the guard. I occasionally forget to put it in, especially when I’m tired, and I’ll know it immediately when I wake up in the morning.
If you ever wake up feeling like I did, it’s worth telling your doctor or dentist. It’s treatable and the damage is preventable.
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