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Mouth Guards
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 Do you wake up in the morning with severe pain in your jaw? If so, you could be suffering from a condition known as bruxism. This condition does not only make your jaw hurt, but it can also make simple tasks, such as eating and speaking, excruciatingly painful. While bruxism can occur at any time, it most frequently occurs at night, when you can’t control the contractions of the muscles in your face and jaw. At Hillsboro Dental Center, we can provide you with a mouth guard, which can aid greatly in alleviating your pain.
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What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition in which you grind and clench your teeth. These actions are caused by the contraction of the muscles in your jaw. While it can happen at any time, it is more prevalent at night. During the daytime, you are aware that your jaw muscles are tensing, and can, therefore, stop it. As you sleep, however, you do not have this control. When the muscles contract, it puts excessive amounts of stress on your teeth, your jaw, and your temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Symptoms of Bruxism
Bruxism has a major impact on your overall quality of life. Some symptoms are noticeable right away, while others happen gradually. Some symptoms can often lead you to believe you have an entirely unrelated issue, which means that your bruxism can go undiagnosed for some time. Symptoms include:
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Facial pain.
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Pain in your jaw, and in your temporomandibular joint (the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull).
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Excessive enamel wear (your teeth may begin to look shorter than normal). You are also at an increased risk for tooth decay.
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Your gums may begin to recede.
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Your teeth may become loose, or even fall out.
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Headaches or earaches. |
What Causes Bruxism?
Bruxism can be caused by a few different things. One of the biggest contributing factors to bruxism, however, is stress. Stress can affect you during the daytime, and even while you sleep. When you are stressed, all of your muscles tense, including the muscles in your mouth and jaw. Bruxism can also be caused by misaligned teeth (or a misaligned jaw) or by stimulants (alcohol, medications, caffeine).
Why Use a Mouth guard?
If you have bruxism, we may be able to help alleviate the symptoms with a mouth guard. A mouth guard is often recommended when lifestyle changes are not enough. Also called an occlusal guard or an occlusal splint, a mouth guard, is an oral device that is made to cushion the impact exerted by your jaw on your teeth.
A mouth guard is made from a mold of your mouth. There are two types. One looks similar to a sports mouth guard and fits over your top teeth. The other type of mouth guard covers only your top front teeth. Both types of mouth guards cushion the impact of your jaw and hold your jaw in proper alignment. Mouth guards cannot put an end to your bruxism issues, but they can greatly assist in alleviating your pain.
When you have bruxism, every function your mouth performs becomes painful. If you suffer from any of the above, please contact us for a consultation.
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Hillsboro Dental Center
Dr. John T. Roberts and Dr. Cheryl Hansen
4440 NE Cornell Rd.
Hillsboro, OR 97124
503-648-2829 |
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