Why do my teeth hurt when I sleep!

Night time bruxism, or grinding, occurs in up to 31% of adults. It is not solely a night time issue as some people unconsciously clench or grind their teeth throughout the day. 

What causes someone to grind? Grinding is typically triggered by stress, anxiety, or even deep concentration about something. There is also the possibility of malalignment, which is teeth not in the right place, and issues with the chemicals that help fire your muscles. Potentially it can also be a sign of having sleep apnea. Bruxism can also occur during the daytime!

What are the signs that someone is grinding their teeth? Soreness in your teeth, sensitivities, muscle pain that is often confused as tooth pain, teeth that seem to be breaking at inopportune times with no decay present.  Your dentist might mention about your teeth having wear facets, or getting shorter over time. 

Night time bruxism can be helped by making bite guards, or your dentist might use the word bite splint. These are made to help position your joint in a comfortable position and make your back teeth not touch when you grind. What’s the point of that? When your back teeth don’t touch, your jaw closing muscles deactivate by 70%. This is the main reason why it helps with teeth/muscles having discomfort. There are store bought boil and bite night guards that are soft that many people try and use. The problem with these is that the softness allows you to “pump” your muscles all night long on them and can actually cause more muscle discomfort. 

Bruxism is an issue that can be managed as long as the correct diagnoses can be made.