There are some oral ailments that can arise secretly in your mouth without you knowing of their existence. One of these particular ailments is known as bruxism. Bruxism is a secret oral health condition that is caused by grinding or gnashing your teeth unconsciously. One form of bruxism, sleep bruxism, arises when you are fast asleep. You should make sure that you are looking for signs and symptoms of bruxism to prevent further damage from the arising.
Physical damage can often occur while you’re sleeping due to bruxism. If you suffer from visible damage, it could become more apparent as time goes by. Every morning, check your teeth to see if any damage has occurred. This includes any fractures, chips, or cracks in your teeth that weren’t there previously. Damage can also occur to other areas, including indentations on your tongue from biting the inner lining of your cheek.
Additional symptoms include pain and a heightened sensitivity to your jaw and facial areas when you wake up. If you feel any jaw or face pain, tight muscles, headaches, earaches, or pain when attempting to fully open and close your jaw, you may be suffering from bruxism as you sleep.
Are you in need of a dentist in New Bedford, Massachusetts? Dr. Purvesh Malaviya at Creative Dental Group wants to make sure your smile shines no matter what condition it is in. If you are interested in a treatment for bruxism, please get in touch with our dentist office by calling us at 508-990-9900.