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Posted on 11/15/2019 by Barbara Ketchum |
 Clenching of the jaw while sleeping, or nocturnal bruxism, is a common problem many people face. A common cause of nocturnal bruxism is stress during the day, which is carried over to the nighttime. As opposed with normal bruxism, which is carried out during the day, nocturnal bruxism can be difficult to control because you are unconscious while sleeping. Since you are unconscious, there is no way to reinforce good jaw posture like during the day, causing the problem to become worse over time. If you are not sure whether or not you clench your jaw at night, there are common symptoms which can indicate that you do. The most common symptom is a sore jaw when waking up in the morning. After a good night's rest if you experience a dull pain in the jaw joint just below your cheeks, it could indicate that you have been clenching all night. Some people report pain not only in their jaw, but also their ear and this pain is sometimes mistaken with an ear infection. Precautions to TakeDuring the day, the precautions you can take to stop bruxism are simple enough. It is just a matter of awareness. You can always readjust the pressure you exert on your jaw and spare your jaw some pain. Taking this step during the day may lessen the pain you feel overall because less stress will be put on your jaw muscle over time. However, this precaution will only save you during the daytime.If you think you are experiencing the pain associated with bruxism after sleeping, it will be necessary to visit our office for a consultation. In many cases we can prescribe a mouthpiece to wear at night, which will save your jaw from the stress of clenching. The mouthpiece will not stop your clenching simply alleviate some of the pressure. It is important to act quickly as nocturnal bruxism can not only affect the muscles in your jaw, it can wear on your teeth and over time cause many other dental health issues. |
