Bruxism Treatment in St. George, UT
Bruxism can damage your teeth and gums and interrupt your sleep. At Plumb Dental, we can diagnose bruxism and design a bruxism treatment plan that alleviates your symptoms by addressing their underlying cause. Our goal is to improve your oral health by offering bruxism treatment that is safe, effective, and sustainable. Call us to schedule a consultation for diagnosis or treatment for bruxism in St. George, UT.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition that causes you to grind your teeth or clench your jaw during sleep or when you’re not paying attention. Most people do it unconsciously, and they may not even know they have the condition until they begin to notice symptoms.
How Does Bruxism Impact Oral & Overall Health?
Without bruxism treatment, regular teeth grinding can take a toll on the health and stability of your teeth and gums. Your teeth may become weakened, and the enamel can begin to wear down. Over time, you may develop cracks or chips in your teeth or multiple loose teeth. It may become harder to eat without discomfort or pain, and you may also develop jaw pain, tenderness, stiffness, and gum pain. Eventually, you may need to have one or more teeth restored or extracted if the damage becomes severe.
Causes & Risk Factors for Bruxism
Bruxism can be caused by a combination of different factors, including stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, health conditions, and side effects of certain medications. Your risk of bruxism is increased due to the following:
- Increased stress and anxiety or feeling overwhelmed about stressors in your life
- Conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, depression and major depressive disorder
- Smoking or using tobacco products, particularly before bed
- Consuming more than six cups of coffee or caffeinated beverages per day
- Drinking alcohol excessively, especially before bed
- Taking certain medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Having sleep apnea
Common Symptoms of Bruxism
Some people don’t realize they have bruxism until they begin to notice symptoms or complications. The most common symptoms of bruxism are:
- A sore or stiff jaw, especially when first waking up
- Jaw stiffness or trouble opening or closing your mouth
- Headaches or migraines
- Tinnitus
- Earaches
- A clicking or popping noise in your jaw when you move it or eat
- Tenderness in your jaw and neck
- Facial pain or inflammation
- Trouble eating or speaking
Our Treatment for Bruxism & Teeth Grinding
We will design a customized bruxism and teeth-grinding treatment plan. Our goal is to create a plan that is easy for you to follow so that you can have consistent results and reduce your risk of complications. We may combine multiple treatment options, including:
- Mouth Guards – Bruxism mouth guards can protect your teeth from damage if you grind your teeth while you sleep.
- Stress Relief – Following stress relief techniques can improve your sleep and reduce your risk of bruxism. We may recommend meditation, deep breathing, guided visualization, therapeutic exercise, yoga, mindfulness, journaling, or counseling or therapy.
- Lifestyle Changes – You can make key lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of bruxism. This may include reducing or eliminating alcohol and caffeine from your diet, quitting smoking or using tobacco products, getting more exercise, drinking more water, and following a healthy diet.
- Medication – Your counselor or therapist may recommend certain medications that can reduce stress and anxiety and prevent bruxism, like muscle relaxants and sedatives.
- Botox Injections – Botox injections can relax your jaw muscles and relieve pain. They may also prevent you from clenching your jaw in your sleep.
Benefits of Early Bruxism Treatment
The sooner you begin bruxism treatment, the less likely you are to experience dangerous or uncomfortable complications of the disorder. We recommend you make an appointment as soon as you notice early warning signs or symptoms of bruxism. The benefits of treating bruxism right away are:
- Reduced risk of side effects like jaw pain, TMJ disorder, headaches and migraines, tooth damage or erosion, tooth loss, and other oral health issues
- Reduced cost of dental care and reduced risk of needing emergency dental care
- Improved sleep and overall health
- Improvement of the underlying cause of your bruxism, such as stress, depression, anxiety, and sleep issues
Why Choose Plumb Dental
At Plumb Dental, we have a team of dentists and dental specialists dedicated to providing personalized, quality dental care. We can help you alleviate dental fear and anxiety so you can get the treatment you need to maintain your health. We offer state-of-the-art dental services in a comfortable, welcoming environment and can use dental sedation to ensure a pain- and stress-free experience. We offer comprehensive family and general dentistry services, as well as cosmetic and restorative dentistry, orthodontic care, periodontal treatment, root canal therapy, wisdom teeth extractions, tooth extractions, teeth whitening, and more.
Schedule a Consultation for Bruxism Treatment
If you have symptoms of bruxism and want to reduce your risk of oral and dental complications, we can help. Call us now or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation for bruxism treatment in St. George, UT. Our dentists will evaluate your symptoms, do a comprehensive dental exam, and take dental x-rays to diagnose bruxism and assess its effects on your health. We will then create a personalized bruxism treatment plan that addresses the cause of your bruxism and relieves your symptoms.