Sleep apnea and TMJ treatments in Ottawa, ON
Do you notice your partner grinding and clenching their teeth while they sleep? Or maybe you feel the tension in your jaw when you wake up most mornings? Teeth grinding – also referred to as sleep bruxism – is a common nocturnal behaviour that is often related to stress. Most people aren’t aware of this behaviour until it begins to produce noticeable symptoms like a sore jaw, headaches or even chipped teeth. Even if it doesn’t produce any obvious symptoms, it can end up wearing down your teeth over time. It can also affect the temporomandibular joint, or for short, TMJ. We now offer sleep bruxism therapy at Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic, so you can enjoy your mornings free of pain.
What Causes
Sleep Bruxism?
Many studies have now shown that sleep bruxism is triggered by stress. Regular everyday stress and anxiety can lead to numerous problems if not managed properly. And with the amount of stress placed on many individuals in the current socioeconomic environment today, jaw clenching or teeth grinding has become increasingly common. Even the degree of stress has shown to predict the severity and intensity of bruxism, which can also occur throughout the daytime.
What Are
The Symptoms?
Since this most commonly happens during sleep, many people aren’t even aware that they’re doing it until their partner tells them, or if they start noticing symptoms such as morning headaches, facial pain, a sore jaw, trouble sleeping, or tooth degradation. If you are suffering from sleep bruxism, the first step to help combat it is to work on reducing and managing your daily stress. Whether it’s trouble at work, trouble with your relationship, or something else that’s triggering anxiety, chronic unmanaged stress fuels problems like teeth grinding, which can lead to insomnia and a variety of other problems in relation to your health. Exercising, meditating, and taking time to relax and recharge are absolutely essential for reducing this ailment and improving your overall health and well-being.
Next up, schedule an appointment to have your teeth inspected by a TMJ dentist. Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic is here for your needs. Since many people are unaware of this nocturnal habit, it may have been occurring for a significant amount of time before you took notice. This can leave your teeth fragile and damaged. It can affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Dentist appointments taken regularly can help avoid these conditions from worsening.
In some cases your dentist may suggest a snoring guard, or snoring appliance, which is a mouthpiece worn at night that can help to prevent snoring, bruxism, and can even serve as a sleep apnea treatment.
Sleep Bruxism Therapy
At Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic, Dr. Dahan can help resolve your sleep-related disorders. Our experienced and knowledgeable team provides the best care for your individual needs. Our practice utilizes proven, holistic, and non-surgical therapies to help alleviate your discomfort and issues that are impacting your sleep.
Get in touch today and schedule an appointment so you can get back to enjoying a good night’s rest.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Bruxism Therapy
What happens if sleep bruxism is left untreated?
Can I treat teeth grinding at home?
What symptoms are related to teeth grinding?
How does sleep bruxism therapy prevent teeth grinding?
What happens if sleep bruxism is left untreated?
If teeth grinding is left untreated, it can lead to several complications that increase in severity with passing time. For example, the constant forces on your teeth can lead to tooth fractures that can require a filling, crown, or root canal therapy. In some cases, it may even lead to tooth loss.
The best treatment is always prevention. We recommend treating issues with teeth grinding immediately to prevent future oral problems. Our sleep bruxism therapy can relieve your discomfort so you can enjoy your mornings free of TMJ pain.
Can I treat teeth grinding at home?
While there are a few natural remedies that may help alleviate your symptoms, the best way to put an end to your TMJ pain is to use natural remedies in combination with trusted techniques such as sleep bruxism therapy.
At-home remedies for teeth grinding include:
-
- Regular exercise
- Taking a warm bath before bed
- Warm compress
- Relaxation techniques — especially before bed
- Self-massaging the jaw muscles
- Avoiding caffeine before bed
- Limiting alcohol
- Sticking to soft foods
With our sleep bruxism therapy, Dr. Dahan can custom fit you for a nightguard, which is an appliance that fits over your top teeth and is worn while you sleep. This device protects your teeth and can put an end to painful TMD.
What symptoms are related to teeth grinding?
While some people are unaware of why they’re experiencing jaw and facial pain, there are other symptoms that can help diagnose teeth grinding. These include:
- Headaches
- Earache
- Pain and stiffness in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles
- Worn-down teeth
If you grind your teeth, contact our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Dahan by calling (613) 454-1854. Sleep bruxism therapy will help you to a better night’s sleep followed by pain-free mornings.
How does sleep bruxism therapy prevent teeth grinding?
During sleep bruxism therapy, Dr. Dahan will customize a night guard to comfortably fit the contours of your smile. The night guard works by placing a barrier between your teeth that adds cushion to the muscles in your jaw. It also helps to protect the enamel in your teeth and lighten the tension. The cushioning helps to prevent face and jaw pain so you can have peaceful nights and pain-free mornings.