What can be the cause of gritting teeth during sleep, and how can one get rid of that involuntary habit?Thanks
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Answers:
You can get a mouth guard. The cheap kind is a kit you get at a drugstore, but your dentist can make a more expensive kind that's better fitted to your mouth. You wear it when you sleep.
As for treating the problem itself, there are several ways but no one accepted way.
It's called 'bruxism'. Check it out on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bruxism...
Stress, and see a dentist.
I grind my teeth at night too! Grinding your teeth is actually called bruxism. Bruxism includes clenching and/or grinding of the teeth. Bruxism is caused by the activation of reflex chewing activity; it is not a learned habit. Chewing is a complex neuromuscular activity that is controlled by reflex nerve pathways with higher control by the brain. During sleep, the reflex part is active, while the brain control is inactive. The result is an abnormal chewing action known as bruxism. Some dentists believe it is due to a lack of symmetry in the teeth; others, that it reflects anxiety, digestive problems or a disturbed sleep pattern. (Wikipedia)
I bought a mouth guard designed especially for teeth grining/bruxism. Try the Doctor's NightGuard or Dr. Brux's DenTech. I prefer the latter- it's smaller and more convienient. Both are custom fitted to your own teeth and come with instructions on how to fit them. Also, they come with cases.
Are you clenching, or have you only been told you are clenching at night because of jaw joint pain? To find out more on basic jaw problems leading to jaw joint pain go to http://oceansurgical.com.au/
There ARE other reasons, such as stress, but many people grind or clench their teeth because they do not meet exactly correctly. If your teeth do not meet correctly, they cause your jaw to shift slightly out of the joint to compensate for the mismatch in your bite. A bite appliance - when properly made - will eliminate the influence of the teeth over the position the bones take in the TMJ. It will allow your jaw to rest in the balanced (and comfortable) position where it belongs. After wearing an appliance for a while, your dentist might suggest some adjustments to your bite, slightly altering (grinding) the surfaces so that they no longer have any interferences to closing with your jaw in the proper position.
What is the cost of a custom made mouth guard...out the door...not just for the device but for the fitting etc?
I was quoted $350 by a professor at one of the two remaining colleges of dentistry in this state...and he added that I was getting "a deal".
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