Do You Grind Your Teeth While You Sleep?

Salt Lake City dentist teeth whitening

A lot of people clench or grind their teeth, especially as they sleep. It’s called bruxism and can lead to jaw pain and tooth damage. If this sounds like you or someone close to you, talk to us about it at The Sugar House Dentist in Salt Lake City.

Most grinding occurs during sleep. If you wake up with a sore jaw and dull headache it could be a clue, especially if it happens on a regular basis.

Anxiety or stress are common causes of bruxism, but not the only reasons. It can also be related to an abnormal bite, or to missing or crooked teeth.

We can diagnose bruxism and discuss nightguards. A nightguard is a mouthguard worn during sleep to protect your teeth.

In the short term, here are three things that may help:

  • Control caffeine or alcohol intake as these may increase tooth grinding.
  • Avoid gum and, don’t chew on pens or pencils. This can help the jaw from clenching repeatedly.
  • Allow the jaw to relax; sometimes just setting your tongue between your teeth will help your jaw relax.

At The Sugar House Dentist in Salt Lake City, the dental health of our patients is of utmost importance. We offer complete family dentistry. Patients from Millcreek and Holladay also come to our office for cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact The Sugar House Dentist:

801-618-0197

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1955 S 1300 E Ste L2
Salt Lake City, Utah
84105

 

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