Teeth grinding or a jaw misalignment frequently cause facial pain. You might not realize you grind your teeth until you develop pain. Symptoms associated with teeth grinding include discomfort when chewing or biting, headaches and muscle soreness. Mouth guards help reduce the forces of teeth grinding and preserve correct jaw alignment.
Definition
The medical term for teeth grinding is bruxism. Prolonged, untreated bruxism leads to jaw misalignment, sore facial muscles and migraines. Problems with the jaw joint are called tempromandibular joint disorders, abbreviated as TMD or TMJ. The mandible, or mandibular bone, is the lower part of your jaw. With TMJ, the mandible does not properly move within the joint, which results in painful grinding, popping or clicking.
Diagnosis
Consult your dentist to determine whether your facial pain results from bruxism or TMJ. You might also need to see a doctor and ear nose and throat doctor. Doctors take X-rays and examine how your teeth line up when you bite together. The X-rays show how your jawbone hinges within your skull. An ear nose and throat doctor examines facial pain symptoms that are linked to sinus blockages or infections.
Types
Mouth guards come in a range of qualities and prices. Buy an inexpensive plastic mouth guard over the counter at your pharmacy. You will need to boil the mouth guard and fit it to your teeth. If you want a more durable night guard, see your dentist. The dentist uses a mold of your teeth to order a hard acrylic splint. Dentists can also adjust night guards to improve fit.
Complementary Treatment
Stress and posture play a role in facial pain. You might notice that you grind your teeth more frequently when you are at work or dealing with stressful situations. Pursue counseling, exercise and meditation to manage emotions and reduce stress. Behavior therapy improves jaw pain by teaching proper jaw posture. Practice keeping your mouth relaxed and closed, with your tongue resting on the roof of your mouth and your teeth slightly apart.
