Instead of waking refreshed and ready-to-go every morning, do you find yourself being greeted instead by a dull headache or sore jaw? Are your teeth starting to show evidence of wear? If so, you could be suffering from nighttime tooth grinding, also known as bruxism. It’s a common condition that, left untreated, can have serious consequences. Thankfully, nighttime mouthguards provide a good solution — but is an over-the-counter one good enough? Keep reading to find out about your Moore mouthguard from Dr. Bobby Carmen.
Moore Mouthguards: Custom Fit or Over-the-counter?
December 9, 2015
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When to Ditch an Over-the-counter Mouthguard (and Why)
September 24, 2015
Are you a nighttime tooth grinder? If so, it’s a condition we also call bruxism, and its side effects are serious. Many times, adults try to self-treat nighttime conditions like bruxism — and sleep apnea, which occurs when the soft tissues of the mouth block the airway — with over-the-counter solutions, like one-size-fits-all mouth trays, snoring prevention or boil and bite mouthguards. These can provide an acceptable solution for a short period of time, but if you’ve got a real problem, you need a real, professional solution. Read more to learn about professional mouthguards from your dentist in Norman.
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Escape the Daily Grind with Bruxism Treatment from Dr. Carmen in Norman, OK
February 28, 2014
The unconscious act of clenching the jaw and grinding the teeth is called bruxism and it can have a number of detrimental effects on your mouth and in your daily life. At the Norman, OK office of Dr. Bobby J. Carmen, we offer customized oral appliances that help keep your teeth and jaw muscles safe from bruxism so you can sleep comfortably and get the rest you deserve.
Causes and Treatment
Though most people with bruxism clench their jaws and grind their teeth at night while they’re asleep, some tend to find themselves engaging in this subconscious behavior during the day as well. The cause of this behavior is generally stress, anxiety or frustration. At night, the constant movements and pressure applied to the teeth and muscles can lead to unnecessary wear and tear, often leading to temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ.
Fortunately, treatment for bruxism is typically relatively simple and affordable for the majority of patients. First, Dr. Carmen will assess your teeth, your bite and the muscles of your jaw. A mouthguard will be custom-fitted to your mouth and you’ll be instructed to wear it at night to prevent further damage to your teeth. The mouthguard serves as a buffer while you sleep, preventing the grinding of tooth surfaces against one another. Patients who start wearing a mouthguard regularly tend to find that they feel noticeably better in the mornings after just a few days of using the device.
Rest Easy with a Mouthguard for Bruxism
If you think that you may be suffering from bruxism and you’re tired of all of its side effects, contact our Norman, OK office today to find out how simple it can be to rid yourself of nighttime teeth grinding. We happily serve patients throughout the surrounding areas of Moore, Central Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma and beyond.
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Put a Stop to Bruxism Before the Stressful Holiday Season
September 21, 2012
We mentioned in our last post that the holiday season is coming up. The holidays are, of course, a time for getting together with friends and family and celebrating values like love and togetherness. But that doesn’t mean the holidays aren’t also a stressful time. And stress is often what causes an oral health condition known as bruxism.
The primary symptom of bruxism is teeth grinding. But there are other symptoms to watch out for in addition to this one. Those symptoms can include pain in the jaw, neck, back, and shoulders. Patients with bruxism may also experience frequent headaches or earaches.
Why is bruxism a serious issue?
Because the pressure of all that grinding can damage your teeth, as well as the muscles and tissues in and around the jaw.
You might think, then, that stopping bruxism is as simple as not grinding your teeth. That’s true, but many patients who struggle with bruxism grind their teeth unconsciously and often while asleep. That makes treating bruxism on your own much more difficult.
So how can you treat bruxism?
With a nightguard! By wearing a nightguard while you sleep, you can prevent the clenching and grinding associated with bruxism, preserving your oral health in the process.
Getting started with a nightguard is easy. The process starts with a complete oral exam at Dr. Carmen’s dental office in Norman. As part of that exam, Dr. Carmen will take an impression of your smile. A nightguard will then be made for you from that impression, and, once it’s ready, treating your symptoms will be a simple as wearing your nightguard while you sleep at night.
To learn more about bruxism and how it can be treated, call our office today. Dr. Norman would be happy to answer your questions and talk to you more about how bruxism can be managed. Our office serves patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.
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Take the Pressure off Your Smile with a Nightguard
July 12, 2012
Day-to-day life is stressful, there’s no doubt about that. Demands at work, hectic commutes, and the rapid flow of life itself can all be enough to leave you feeling tense. That spells bad news for your health, but also for your smile.
It’s not uncommon to react to stress by clenching your teeth. In fact, it’s a pretty natural response. But no matter how natural it might be, it’s not healthy. Over time, clenching and grinding can harm your teeth and your jaw, causing painful symptoms and ruining your oral health.
So it might seem that the simplest way to treat this problem—which is called bruxism—is to just stop clenching and grinding your teeth. But unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Many patients who struggle with bruxism don’t even know they’re struggling, because they grind and clench their teeth while they’re sleeping. That makes it difficult to just stop.
But using a comfortable, custom-made nightguard, it’s possible for Dr. Carmen to provide his Norman-area patients with the relief they’ve been looking for.
Nightguards work by preventing the clenching and grinding that can so easily damage your teeth and jaw muscles. To experience relief, all you have to do is slip it on before you go to bed. Then, you can rest comfortably through the night and wake up feeling better than you have in a long time.
Learn More Today
Are you ready to learn more about how you can stop bruxism with a nightguard? Call Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office today to schedule an appointment with us. Our team happily serves patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.
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Is Bruxism Keeping You From Smiling?
April 30, 2012
Do you struggle with frequent headaches, earaches, or jaw pain? Do you sometimes catch yourself clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth after a stressful day?
Teeth grinding or clenching is known as bruxism and is a natural reaction to stress. But as natural as it might be, the constant pressure and motion of bruxism can seriously harm your smile, causing surface wear and eventually serious dental trouble. What’s more, untreated bruxism can also lead to TMJ dysfunction, insomnia, eating disorders, and depression. Which is why, at Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office, we can help you treat bruxism with a nightguard.
What Is a Nightguard?
A nightguard is an oral appliance you wear while you sleep, when unconscious teeth grinding is most common. They are designed to stop teeth from grinding and clenching, and can be custom-made to fit your exact needs. There is more than one type of nightguard, and if one doesn’t work, we can help you find another that might.
In addition to creating a custom-made nightguard for you, Dr. Carmen can also recommend relaxation techniques that will help you manage and alleviate stress, although, for many patients, a nightguard is all it takes to erase symptoms of bruxism.
Let Dr. Carmen Help You Smile Again
If you live in Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, or near The University of Oklahoma, Dr. Carmen can help you treat bruxism. Give us a call today if you’d like to schedule an appointment with us. We look forward to seeing you!
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Stop Bruxism Before It Leads To TMJ Dysfunction
January 19, 2012
Bruxism is another name for a problem you may be dealing with everyday without knowing it—teeth grinding. More specifically, bruxism can involve grinding your teeth back and forth across each other, or just clenching your jaw.
Often, what prompts this is stress. It’s almost like a natural reaction and is something you can do unconsciously without thinking about too much.
That’s especially the case when you sleep. Patients who have trouble with bruxism often have the greatest trouble at night, when it’s impossible to consciously stop the grinding or clenching.
How Can I Know If I Have Bruxism?
Only a diagnosis from a dentist like Dr. Carmen can tell you for sure, but some symptoms to watch out for include:
- Jaw pain
- Headaches
- Neck, back, and shoulder pain
- Earaches
- Sensitive teeth
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Insomnia
With a thorough oral exam from Dr. Carmen at our Norman dental office, we can help you identify whether or not your painful symptoms are being caused by bruxism.
Why Is It Important To Treat Bruxism?
Treating bruxism is important because, if left untreated, it can lead to TMJ dysfunction. Both have painful symptoms and can significantly damage your teeth.
If you want to save your smile from serious damage and find a way to alleviate your painful symptoms, call our Norman office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Carmen. Our dental office serves patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.
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Beat Bruxism and the Daily Grind with a Nightguard from Dr. Carmen
May 2, 2011
We know how stressful life can be. With rush-hour traffic, deadlines at work, bills to pay—it’s enough to leave you grinding your teeth.
But all the pressure and motion can wreak havoc on your smile, damaging your teeth and leaving you with a sore jaw, headaches, or earaches. What’s worse, many who respond to stress by grinding their teeth do it while they’re asleep, leaving them unable to consciously stop.
This painful condition, known as bruxism, can only get worse is left untreated. Worn out jaw muscles and a bite left changed by worn down teeth can contributes to symptoms of TMJ dysfunction. Insomnia, depression, and eating disorders can even become a problem. All of which means, if you think the daily grind is getting to you, it’s time to see Dr. Carmen. With a nightguard from our Norman office you can finally rest easy!
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