Chronic headaches affect millions of people all over the world – and they can have a multitude of causes. But you might not realise that this persistent pain can actually be a dental issue in disguise.
If you’re experiencing headaches, perhaps with jaw pain or stiffness, you may well have an issue with teeth grinding; otherwise known as bruxism. Because this happens during sleep, many patients don’t even realise they’re doing it – often, a partner is the first to notice the grinding sound at night. For others, it may be a dentist that identifies the problem.
However, once you’re aware, it’s important to seek treatment. Over time, bruxism can cause irreversible damage to your teeth, so the sooner you can mitigate the effects, the better.
Signs you may be grinding your teeth
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- Earache
- Jaw pain or stiffness
- Disrupted sleep
- Sensitive teeth
- Teeth wearing down
What causes teeth grinding?
In stressful or busy times, many of us hold tension within our muscles; usually subconsciously. Typically, these tight spots include our shoulders, jaw, and temples – meaning we become used to clenching or overworking these areas. For this reason, there’s a clear link between stress and bruxism.
There are also other factors that can cause or exacerbate teeth grinding. If you snore, mumble, or suffer from sleep apnoea, you’re more likely to grind your teeth. It can also be a side-effect of certain antidepressant medications, such as paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline.
What is TMD?
Over time, teeth grinding can lead to persistent pain or stiffness in the jaw, prompting something called temporomandibular disorder (TMD). This can cause discomfort around the jaw, ear or temple, and a clicking, popping or grinding noise when you open your mouth. You might even have difficulty with fully opening your jaw, or find that it locks when you do.
TMD is commonly caused by teeth grinding, but it can also be the result of trauma (such as a blow to the head), or an uneven bite, needing orthodontic treatment. If you’re unsure of the cause, a dentist can help identify the likely culprit.
The effect on your teeth
Teeth grinding might seem like a minor issue, but in reality, with each night that passes, you’re causing more damage to your teeth. Over time, this accrues to become a much more serious problem. Teeth can become worn – sometimes unevenly – or appear visibly shorter. In turn, this can lead to tooth loss, broken teeth, or fillings. Some patients with bruxism lose or damage the enamel on their teeth, which exposes the dentin that lies beneath and causes sensitivity.
And of course, protracted teeth grinding is likely to cause long-term issues with headaches, jaw pain, and the symptoms of TMD, which affects your overall quality of life. But luckily, it’s something you don’t have to put up with – in the right hands, bruxism is easily treatable.
Easing bruxism at home
We’ll always say that if you’re grinding your teeth, or experiencing chronic headaches, it’s important to see a dentist. They’ll be best placed to track down the root cause – and, if it’s bruxism, create a plan for treatment.
However, things you can do to help yourself include:
- Avoiding alcohol or caffeine;
- Finding ways to relax;
- Massaging painful jaw muscles;
- Using hot compresses to relax the muscles;
- Consciously unclenching your jaw during the day;
- Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain.
Despite this, these can only ever ease the short-term issues; they’re unlikely to prevent you from teeth grinding in the long run.
Treatment for teeth grinding
At The Bristol Dental Practice, we have specialist dentists with interests in tooth wear, TMD, teeth grinding, and dental sleep medicine. If we think bruxism is your issue, there are several steps we can take to treat it.
The first is likely to be a Michigan splint – a precision-made splint that helps prevent any more damage occurring to your teeth. From there, we may fit you with a custom mouthguard, which is worn at night to cushion the jaw pressure and create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth. Alternatively, if we think you need something more durable, we can design an occlusal splint, which improves how your teeth bite together and relieves strain on your jaw joint.
In some cases, constant clenching or grinding can also cause overactive jaw muscles. If this affects you, we can administer Botox injections to the masseter muscles, which connect your cheekbone to your lower jaw. This allows them to gently relax, easing some of the pressure in these areas and reducing the intensity of the grinding.
Fixing damaged teeth
If you’ve been grinding your teeth for some time, or during an intense period of stress, they may have become damaged. Although this isn’t reversible, it’s possible for us to “rebuild” your teeth – both in terms of function and appearance. Once the grinding is under control, we can begin to restore your smile.
Depending on the damage present, this could be as simple as adding white composite fillings to the top of your teeth. These match your natural tooth colour, discreetly filling in any chips or cracks and creating a smooth finish. We may also recommend using veneers, which are fixed to the front surface of your teeth, or onlays or crowns, which are applied over your molars. We’ll carry out a full assessment before creating a plan for your individual situation.
How to get help
Today, there’s really no need to tolerate the discomfort of teeth grinding. If you’re suffering with any signs – from headaches to tooth sensitivity – we’d like to see you for a bruxism consultation. This will give us time to assess your jaw muscles and movements, inspect your mouth for damage or bite irregularities, and carry out a panoramic radiograph to check your jaw joint and joint disc health. Based on this, we can come up with the best and most effective plan for you – whether that’s treating tooth grinding or diagnosing another cause.
If you’d like to book an appointment, you can easily refer yourself online or give us a call on 0117 405 4369.