How to stop Bruxism

 If you wake up the next day with your jaw being sore, a big headache, or the sound of gnashing coming from your mouth, chances are you’re grinding your teeth. Bruxism isn’t just a mild annoyance though, it’s something that can damage your teeth if you leave this unchecked. But there are ways to prevent this, and here, we’ll go over how to stop bruxism. 

The symptoms 

This is usually seen in the form of TMJ and headaches that are common. You also may notice that your teeth are fractured, inflamed, and gums are receding. 

Other symptoms might include: 

• more sensitive teeth 

• soreness of the jaw 

• loose or chipped teeth 

• temple headaches 

Teeth grinding along with bruxism both have very similar symptoms to other types of conditions, and if you notice that it’s happening, you can stop it. Usually though, most people do it when sleeping, so that’s hard to mitigate, but if you learn the symptoms, it can help. 

How it impacts oral health 

When you clench and grind your teeth, the force that’s there is actually much higher than what you do during chewing. When you eat, usually the food buffers this, but the thing is, when you engage in bruxism, this affects the whole mouth, with no barriers. 

This leads too: 

• enamel wearing away 

• chipping or cracking of implants, teeth, and bridgework too 

• sensitivity of the teeth 

• teeth that are loose or painful. 

• Facial pain and jaw muscle clenching 

• Headaches 

This is usually caused by different things. 

The causes 

There are a few causes that lead to bruxism. 

The first is snoring.  Usually, snoring plays a large part in bruxism. When you suffer from sleep apnea or even sleep talking, it can impact the breathing, and you might clench your teeth to open up the airway. 

Anger, stress and frustration also cause this, according to the ADA. When you start to engage in more relaxing activities, it can help with the development of this. 

Some people also may have this due to lifestyle choices. If you smoke or drink alcohol, this can sometimes lead to a development of this. However, this is something that’s also seen in children, so it does depend on the circumstances. 

There are also certain meds, such as antidepressants, and also other neurological conditions including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease.  

Treatments 

The best way to treat this is to talk to your doctor.  You want to also discuss this with a dentist too. 

Most dental hygienists will see the signs of bruxism right away, and they can help provide the best treatments possible to help with this. 

Probably one of the biggest things you must do, is to calm down, and stay relaxed as best as you can. That’s because it can help you relax, and reduce the chances of teeth grinding. A hot shower, a bath with a book that you enjoy, or even practicing meditation and mindfulness is a good way to reduce this. 

You also may want to get a nightguard, which is basically a device that you wear that’s like a mouthguard for your teeth during the night. If you grind your teeth, you can prevent further damage. 

You also may need some mandibular advancement devices as well, which brings the jaw forward as you sleep, and this is something that’s used for treating sleep disorders. 

You want to treat this right away, and get rid of it whenever you can, for your own jaw’s health and safety reasons as well and for your oral health needs too.

When Should I get Antibiotics for a Toothache

 If you’ve got a toothache or an infection in your mouth and are experiencing a ton of pain in your mouth, you may wonder if there is a way to get some relief. One way is an antibiotic. It might seem strange to take antibiotics, especially since it’s not a typical infection. But, all of these infections, especially within the mouth, have a lot in common. All of them have been caused by bacteria.  Not every dental infection however calls for antibiotics, and here, we’ll go over whether you should get antibiotics for the toothache that you have.

Tooth Decay and bacteria. 

In order to understand the reasons why a dentist might give you antibiotics, the first thing to note is that bacteria and toothaches work in a very intriguing manner. Without regular brushing and flossing that promotes the cleaning of those nasty bacteria, turning these foods into acid does happen. This results in the formation of cavities, tooth decay, and other problems. If you take in a ton of sugar, especially those that are overloaded and get stuck on your mouth, you’re going to especially give bacteria a reason to continue to fast on your mouth and structures. Bacteria that cause this are known in many cases are called Streptococcus mutans. 

The Causes of a Toothache 

The causes of this usually are from when the bacteria go and break down on the inner parts of the tooth, creating a vulnerability to this. This inner chamber is vital, as it contains different nerves that’ll supply you with different sensations. When some bacteria reach this, it’s painful, leading to worse dental problems that require an antibiotic treatment.

There are a lot of causes for a toothache, including cavities, where the chamber inside of the tooth is vulnerable, and abscesses happen with this. cavities don’t necessarily mean that it’s time for antibiotics. You can get cavities treated with crowns and fillings depending upon the infection. When it does reach the nerves however, you need a root canal and a cover to keep the bacteria out of there. if the tooth gets so broken down beyond repair as well, they might need to take it out. 

When to Prescribe Antibiotics 

Usually, when the infection is so severe that it impacts the gum and other areas of the tooth, you might need antibiotics. One example of this is pericoronitis, which is an infection that begins in the tissues of the gums, developing around the wisdom teeth. Some people who have this do get antibiotics as a treatment for this.

You may also get amoxicillin and penicillin for infections. Another one that a lot of people get is Clindamycin, which is prescribed for those who do have a penicillin allergy.  You want to make sure not to have too much of this, as this can lead to bacterial resistance. You should be mindful of this, especially when taking it.

You want to make sure that, if you do take antibiotics, you always follow what the doctor orders, as this offers the ideal outcome. You’ll want to follow through with the treatment till the end, especially if there are more prescriptions to take. 

If you have a toothache, there are a few ways to prevent and reduce the risk, including limiting the sugary drinks and foods you have, brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing your teeth once a day, and finally, getting a dental checkup. 

Doing this prevents cavities, and prevents the need to take antibiotics, leading to a happier, healthier life for yourself.