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.