Do you often wake up with pain or soreness in your jaw? Here at Guiney Dental Clinic, we often see people who experience this problem. This is normally a problem that affects adults, and it is usually caused by excessive grinding of the teeth during sleep. However, persistent pain in the jaw can be a symptom of temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), which is a stress related condition that can affect many different parts of the body.
If you find that you are waking up with a sore jaw frequently, and experiencing problems such as lockjaw and jaw popping, you should speak to your dentist to rule out this condition. Whatever the cause, grinding the teeth at night can both cause and worsen the problem, and it is important to address this.
How To Relieve A Sore Jaw In The Morning
Excessive tooth grinding, or bruxism, will inflame and irritate the muscles around the jaw, and if you grind your teeth at night, this can cause pain in the jaw when you wake up. Resolving this pain and protecting your teeth from the damage that bruxism can cause is very important, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
You may wish to try the following options:
- Wear a splint. Talk to your dentist about the possibility of wearing a splint to prevent you from grinding your teeth overnight.
Your dentist will take impres-sions of your teeth and create a custom splint, which can be worn at night to help resolve the problem. - Try heat treatment. You may find that using heat and ice alternately helps to prevent the build up of tension and spasm in the overworked muscles.
A hot drink can be very helpful in relaxing the jaw in the first instance, so that’s a great reason to enjoy your morning cuppa! - Use painkillers.Although it will not address the cause of the problem, you may find it helpful to use over-the-counter medication in the short term
to relieve the pain in your jaw. - Rest your jaw.When you wake up with muscles that already ache from overuse, it can help to rest the jaw for a while. You could try having
a smoothie for breakfast to start your day healthily without putting more stress on your muscles. - De-stress before bed.TMJ and bruxism can both be exacerbated by high stress levels, and stress can also contribute to many other health problems.
Taking steps to reduce the stress in your daily life can be helpful in many ways, and you could explore meditation, yoga and therapy for anxiety in order to create a more relaxed
state of mind.
Find A Dentist In Ballincollig
When you need a good dentist in Ballincollig, you can come and meet our friendly team at the Guiney Dental Clinic. We love to work with the whole family, and our dentists and dental hygienists are experienced in working with children and adults who feel anxious about dental visits. Call today on 021-481 0535.