If you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw and teeth in the morning, you may be grinding your teeth through the night. Teeth grinding may be a symptom of an underlying disease, but it also may occur because of anxiety or abnormal alignment of the jaw. Teeth grinding may be a cause of TMJ disorder, as well, which is a disorder that affects the jaw joint that allows the mouth to open and close. If you find yourself suffering in the morning from discomfort you should seek help from a dental professional, as teeth grinding may lead to other oral cavity problems.
A lot of the time, teeth grinding happens sporadically to a lot of people, and does not cause any harm. Situational anxiety can cause people to grind their teeth in the night, or from situational stress. If this is the case, you most likely will not notice you even grind your teeth.
If the teeth grinding is noticeable to you, and it is causing major discomfort, there may be an underlying issue that you should see your doctor for. If you are dealing with a misaligned jaw or TMJ disorder, your doctor will be able to provide a treatment plan specifically for you, to alleviate your pain from the clenched jaw.
If you are gnashing your teeth, you may want to try an over the counter solution, like a night guard. Night guards provide a cushion in between the teeth, that does not allow grinding to happen, or cause stress to the teeth. This may be a solution your doctor provides you as well, depending on your specific situation.
If you are suffering from teeth grinding, it is always a good idea to see your dental professional for help. They will be able to figure out the cause and provide you with solutions. They will also be able to help you if anything else is an issue, like oral diseases. Schedule a consultation with your doctor to ensure you maintain good oral health and hygiene.
