Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com  What is Bruxism? If you find yourself waking up with sore jaw muscles or a headache, you may be suffering from bruxism - the grinding and clenching of teeth. Bruxism can cause teeth to become painful or loose, and sometimes parts of the teeth are literally ground away. Eventually, bruxism can destroy the surrounding bone and gum tissue. It can also lead to problems involving the jaw joint, such as temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). How do I Know if I Have Bruxism? For many people, bruxism is an unconscious habit. They may not even realize they're doing it until someone comments that they make a horrible grinding sound while sleeping. For others, a routine dental checkup is when they discover their teeth are worn or their tooth enamel is fractured. Other potential signs of bruxism include aching in the face, head and neck. Your dentist can make an accurate diagnosis and determine if the source of facial pain is a ...

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about teeth grinding also known as bruxism. The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD      280-5201 43 St.     Red Deer, AB     T4N 1C7     (855) 636-9223     VistaDentalCare.ca

The habit:  “This can cause chipping or cracking of the teeth, as well as muscle tenderness or joint pain,” Dr. Messina says. “You might also feel like you can’t open your mouth wide or chew with pain.” The solution:  “Relaxation exercises and staying aware makes a difference,” he says. A nighttime mouthguard can also help. “You’ll have less tooth damage, less pain and muscle soreness and better sleep.” To read the entire article please visit  MouthHealthy.org Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C 7 (855) 636-9223 VistaDentalCare.ca