Bruxism
Do you wake up with jaw pain, headaches, or other uncomfortable symptoms that you don't know the cause of?
You may have bruxism, a condition that causes teeth grinding and clenching. Fortunately, you have treatment options.
Dr. Douglas Pohl in Fort Walton Beach, FL, can diagnose and treat bruxism to relieve your discomfort and improve your quality of life.
Bruxism and TMJ Disorders Understanding the Difference
Bruxism is often discussed alongside TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. While bruxism can cause a patient to develop a TMJ disorder, the conditions differ.
Sleep Bruxism
Sleep bruxism causes patients to clench and grind their teeth while they sleep. You may wake up with jaw pain, headaches, and other bruxism symptoms but not realize you have the condition, as it doesn't affect you during the day.
Awake Bruxism
Awake bruxism occurs during the day. Patients with awake bruxism clench and grind their teeth while concentrating on work or when overwhelmed by stress. This form of bruxism can also be hard to recognize in the moment.
TMJ Disorder
A TMJ disorder occurs when the jaw joints become inflamed. This is typically caused by an imbalanced bite, but it can also be caused by bruxism. If you grind your teeth to the point of jaw joint inflammation, you may develop a TMJ disorder.
Treatment Can Be Simple For Patients With Bruxism
Once we diagnose your bruxism, we'll begin with non-invasive dental treatment. These methods are often enough to manage and treat the condition, preventing further wear and tear on teeth.
Nightguard
Wearing a nightguard to bed is ideal for patients with sleep bruxism. We can customize a nightguard that cushions your top and bottom teeth when you clench or grind your jaws. This prevents dental damage and alleviates the pressure put on the jaw muscles as a result of teeth grinding.
Physical Therapy
Patients with awake bruxism may benefit more from physical therapy. This can teach you how to recognize the symptoms of bruxism, as well as exercises to relax your jaw and avoid teeth grinding.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, managing stress levels, and reducing caffeine intake, can greatly reduce the symptoms of bruxism, like grinding and clenching the teeth.
"Dr. Pohl and everyone in his office are awesome." Patient Praise for Our Fort Walton Beach Practice
Steven Schaub
2022
Dr Pohl and everyone in his office are awesome. I had a great experience and appreciate their great customer service
View on GoogleVickie Roberson
2022
Best dentist. I have been with Dr Pohl for over 20 years . I completely trust him taking care of any and all issues I have had with my teeth
View on Google
