Do you regularly wake with a headache? Do you suffer from jaw pain or has your partner complained that you keep them awake at night by grinding your teeth? If so, we are here to help. With our advice and treatment, we could banish headaches and ensure everyone in your household can enjoy peaceful nights again.

About tooth grinding

Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a fairly common problem, which tends to occur subconsciously during the night while you sleep. The most common cause is stress; however, there are other potential causes, including anxiety, loose restorations (such as crowns or fillings) and orthodontic issues, which affect the way the top and bottom arches of teeth fit together when the jaw is relaxed.

Tooth grinding is often nothing to worry about; however, if you grind your teeth on a regular basis or over a prolonged period of time, it can have damaging implications. Grinding the teeth can cause damage to the tooth structure and it may also result in headaches and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain.

Treating bruxism

Our primary aim, when we see clients with symptoms of bruxism, is to ascertain the cause; once we know what is causing tooth grinding, we can then suggest suitable treatment options. In cases where anxiety or stress are to blame, we can provide advice concerning stress and anxiety management techniques and fit you with a specialist bite guard, which is a custom-made appliance, which sits over the teeth while you sleep. The idea of the bite guard is to prevent physical contact between the teeth. In cases where there are orthodontic implications, we may recommend treatment, such as braces, to align the teeth and correct problems with the bite. We can also carry out restorative repair work to sort out any loose fillings, crowns or veneers.