TOOTH GRINDING
Q: My husband grinds his teeth at night. Sometimes, it drives me out of the room. What can we do?
A: Some steps can help your husband with his—and your—problem. The technical name for your husband’s condition is bruxism. Some experts estimate that as many as 10 percent of the population deals with this grinding. And that includes children right through older people.
The habit is not necessarily confined to nighttime. People who grind their teeth in their sleep generally have no idea they’re doing it. And they may wake up feeling fine. Others, however, wake with jaw, shoulder, and neck pain. Bruxism also can significantly wear teeth and loosen them. It can crack tooth enamel and chip or break teeth in severe cases. During sleep, bruxism can cause a person’s jaw to clench at a pressure up to six times greater than during waking hours.
Causes of bruxism can vary. Stress, a sleep disorder, an abnormal bite, or crooked or missing teeth can all be factors. Unfortunately, whatever the cause, it generally becomes a habit and does not stop. A nighttime mouth guard, specially fitted by the dentist, maybe the answer.
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!
Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.