Why are my Jaws Sore when I Wakeup

Serving Patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids MI

When you wake up, do your jaws feel sore? Does your head hurt? Do your teeth ever feel tender or sensitive? These are all warning signs of a more serious condition known as bruxism, which occurs while you sleep and results in clenching and grinding of the teeth. Many Americans, even children, experience bruxism and don’t even realize that they have it! Your Grand Rapids TMJ doctors at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan want you to know more about this serious condition, how it affects your oral health, it’s causes, symptoms, and treatment.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is thought to be a disorder connected to the central nervous system. It can be brought on by stress and anxiety, or even obstructive sleep apnea. Taking anti-depressants, smoking, and drinking can exacerbate a case of bruxism. Some medical professionals believe that bruxism may also be hereditary. Since many times, these risk factors cannot be eliminated, it is best to take proactive measures by protecting your teeth from the devastating effects of bruxism.

How does bruxism affect my oral health?

Our teeth and jaws are designed to withstand a great deal of pressure from normal biting and chewing. However, when bruxism occurs, you are exerting as much as 600 pounds of additional force on your teeth and jaws! This excessive force and pressure can lead to sore or tender jaw joints, chronic jaw pain, headaches, sore or sensitive teeth, damaged or broken teeth, and more. Some people with a chronic case of bruxism may experience neck and back pain as well.

What are the symptoms of bruxism?

Bruxism has a wide range of symptoms. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, we encourage you to come in and see our doctors that treat TMJ disorder in Grand Rapids.

Symptoms of bruxism include:

• Clenching and grinding teeth loudly at night, enough to wake up partner
• Teeth that have become loose, chipped or flattened on the top chewing surface
• Worn down tooth enamel
• Sensitive teeth
• Pain or soreness in the jaw or face
• Fatigued or tight jaw muscles
• Frequent earaches
• Headaches that originates at the temples
• Indentions alongside your tongue
• Clicking or popping sounds when opening or closing your jaw

Bruxism is known to cause TMJ disorder, which is a dysfunction of the jaw joints where the musculature, nerves, and blood vessels are strained and inflamed.

How can I protect my oral health from bruxism?

Stopping bruxism can be difficult. But, we can provide you with effective measures to protect your teeth and jaw joints. At TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan, we can use our advanced technology to determine the severity of your condition, as well as find the ideal alignment of occlusion or how your teeth should come together when at rest. Once we determine this alignment, we can craft a specially designed mouthpiece to hold that position in place while you sleep. Also, this mouth guard will absorb the force and pressure as you clench and grind your teeth at night, instead of your teeth!

Treatment for Bruxism in Grand Rapids

If you would like to learn more about bruxism, it’s causes and treatment, please call TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan at (616) 458-0631 to schedule a consultation.

TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan welcomes patients from Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, and Holland.