Six Signs That You Are Grinding Your Teeth at Night Without Realizing It
Most people assume that if they are grinding their teeth, they would know it. The truth is that many people do it at night and have no idea that they are grinding at all. Once they learn this is what is going on, they often find relief from ailments they had no idea were related to teeth grinding. If you suspect you might be doing this while you sleep, contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 for help. If you don’t believe you are grinding, keep reading to learn six signs that might surprise you.
What to Know About Grinding Your Teeth
Most people think of grinding as something that is only done when they are angry, but it more often happens while a person is sleeping and it cannot be stopped by simply willing it to stop. When it is done at night it is referred to as bruxism, and about 8% of the adults in the United States grind their teeth each night – which makes up about 25 million people. No one truly understands the causes of bruxism, but some studies have suggested correlations between anxiety, stress, smoking, sleep apnea and alcohol consumption.
- Someone Has Heard You
- You Have Sharp Jaw Pain When You Wake Up
- You Have a General Soreness in Your Jaw or Face
- There is Pain Inside Your Cheek
- Fractured or Chipped Teeth
- Headaches Around the Temple
Most people first learn that they are grinding their teeth because someone hears them and tells them. In fact, sometimes people grind their teeth so loudly that it wakes up people near them.
If you wake up regularly with pain that is radiating to your jaw, then this might be a sign that you are grinding or clenching your teeth hard at night. It could also be a sign of something like TMJ. You should talk to your dentist to find out what is going on.
It is not just sharp pain that can be a sign of grinding – general soreness in the jaw or face can be a symptom too. Think about it: constantly grinding at night gives your cheeks and jaws quite the workout.
Remember that the grinding is involuntary, which means that it can get quite rough and out of control. When that happens, it can result in damage to the inside of your cheek. This could be a cut, or it could just be raw. Either way, if there is no explanation for a wound in your cheek, it could be that you are grinding at night.
People who grind very hard for years can end up doing serious damage to their teeth. In fact, they can chip, loosen, and even fracture their teeth. This could result in the need for dental implants or other cosmetic dentistry solutions.
If you experience headaches around your temple, this could be caused by the pressure of your grinding. This can even occur if you are not grinding but rather just clenching your teeth tightly while you sleep.
