A common dental concern that we treat in our Arlington Heights, IL dentist office is bruxism. Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, often occurs without patients even noticing it. Many patients grind their teeth at night while they are asleep. While seemingly a harmless habit, teeth grinding can lead to severe dental concerns the longer it is left untreated. Dr. Engelberg offers several solutions for treating teeth grinding in our Arlington Heights, IL dentist office. Learn the answers to frequently asked questions about teeth grinding below:
How can I tell if I’m grinding my teeth?
A friend or family member may notice that you are grinding your teeth while you sleep. However, there are some symptoms to look out for on your own. If you often wake up with a sore jaw or sensitive teeth, it is likely that you were grinding your teeth in your sleep. Additionally, if you suffer from frequent dental damages like worn-down teeth, chips, or cracks, this is also a sign of teeth grinding. Dr. Engelberg looks for signs and symptoms of teeth grinding during your routine preventative dental exams. Make sure to mention any frequent headaches, shoulder pain, neck pain, or earaches that you may have experienced outside of our office as these concerns can often be traced back to teeth grinding as well.
Can Botox help with teeth grinding?
Botox Therapeutic can be used to relieve facial muscle tension caused by teeth grinding. As the injection relaxes the temporomandibular joint, symptoms like headaches, jaw pain, and earaches may become less frequent or disappear. Botox limits your ability to engage the jaw in grinding or clenching by alleviating muscle tension. This will allow your jaw muscles to “re-program” and may prevent teeth grinding or clenching in the future. With repeated treatments, some patients are able to correct bruxism or at least ease the tension caused by it so that their teeth grinding habit will not interfere with normal activities such as eating or speaking properly.
What are my other treatment options for teeth grinding?
Oral appliance therapy is also available for treating teeth grinding. Using a custom mouthguard, patients can proactively prevent dental damages caused by teeth grinding. The custom mouthguard is usually worn at night to prevent patients from unconsciously grinding their teeth. It holds their jaw in a healthy resting position while they sleep to allow patients to wake up with a fully rested and restored jaw. Patients can also wear the mouthguards during times of high stress or anxiety when they are most likely to feel the urge to grind their teeth together. If you want to learn more about your treatment options for teeth grinding in Arlington Heights, IL, schedule an appointment to meet with Dr. Engelberg. He can help you manage your teeth grinding and prevent major dental concerns from occurring if treated promptly.