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MANAGING TEETH GRINDING AND JAW CLENCHING

Dr Fareed Amod, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) stop. Stress management can help Regardless of age, teeth grinding
Crown Dental Studio discomfort – jaw soreness or tight and learning ways to become in children can lead to:
muscles around your jaw. These aware of the problem can also ■ Headaches
eople who symptoms are often accompanied help reduce the frequency. ■ Jaw pain
are at high by various oral signs, such as: ■ TMJ disorders (jaw clicking
Prisk for ■ Fractured, chipped or loose Sleep bruxism: Night time
dental problems teeth grinding is sometimes related and other problems)
include those who ■ Inflammation, recession to hyperactivity, sleep apnea, or ■ Wear and tear on the teeth
have a tendency to acid reflux, and can appear as a While stress is a main cause of
clench their jaw of gums side effect of certain medications bruxism in adults, that’s not
or grind their ■ Increased tooth sensitivity due intended to treat depression. usually the case with children.
teeth. If you to diminished tooth enamel Also, tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, Teeth grinding in children may
find yourself Types of bruxism and illicit drugs can increase come from:
clenching teeth-grinding risk.
your jaw throughout the day, Bruxism can happen when You may not get the help you ■ Allergies
or you wake up with sensitive you’re awake or asleep. The need since you’re unaware it is ■ Misaligned teeth
teeth, a sore jaw, or a headache, grinding action is the same, happening. Another challenge ■ Mouth irritation
you might suffer from bruxism – but awake and asleep bruxism with sleep bruxism is that people ■ Obstructive sleep apnea
grinding, clenching or gnashing are considered two separate don’t realize how strongly they’re ■ Heredity can also recommend stress
of the teeth. conditions. clenching their jaw and teeth. Talk to your dentist if your relief options. 
This teeth-grinding and jaw- Awake bruxism: You clench child’s teeth look worn or you Crown Dental Studio is one of the few
clenching habit is a common your jaw and grind your Can children have teeth grinding? hear grinding. Also get any truly 24-hour dental practices in Durban
condition that affects up to one- teeth during the day with this Like adults, children can have complaints of jaw or teeth pain as this is not limited to emergency
third of adults in the daytime condition. Daytime clenching bruxism. Parents may hear their checked out. dentistry treatment.
T: +27 81 207 8621
and more than one in ten in their is usually triggered by stress, children grinding their teeth E: info@dramod.co.za
sleep. Occasionally grinding your anxiety, tension, or even in their sleep. But bruxism in If you are suffering from W: www.dramod.co.za
teeth most likely won’t cause concentration. Feeling anxious, children may not lead to long- bruxism, visit your dentist as
any harm. However, according stressed or angry can lead to term damage. Children’s teeth soon as possible, so that you
to the Bruxism Association, the teeth grinding. Awake bruxism and jaws change quickly, and can avoid long-term damage.
most common symptoms of often doesn’t need treatment, they may outgrow bruxism by the If the bruxism turns out to be
teeth grinding are headaches and you’re more likely to notice and time they lose their baby teeth. stress related, health providers

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E-MAIL:
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