further damage to your teeth and jaw and help you get a good night’s sleep. The most common symptoms or warning signs of bruxism are:

• Misalignment or malocclusion of the teeth
• Jaw pain or tenderness
• Earaches
• Headaches or facial pain, especially upon waking
• Difficulty opening your mouth widely
• Loss of range of motion or stiffness of the jaw
• Pain when speaking, chewing, or eating

• Awake Bruxism – If you only grind your teeth or clench your teeth and jaw when you are awake, you have awake bruxism and are likely aware of the problem. You may not need formal treatment because the condition occurs during waking hours, and you have more control over it. Increasing your awareness and relieving stress may help you avoid grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. Practicing mindfulness and stress relief techniques when you find yourself doing it can reduce the number of occurrences you have.
• Sleep Bruxism – If you grind or clench your teeth in your sleep, you may not even be aware you are doing it. Even though it happens while you are sleeping, it might momentarily wake you up repeatedly throughout the night, affecting your quality of sleep. It also causes damage and injury to your teeth and jaw. Bruxism treatment can help you find relief from symptoms and manage your condition.

• Severe or increasing levels of stress or anxiety.
• Lack of resources or coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.
• Stressful or unwelcoming home environment.
• Environmental, physical, or emotional disturbances at bedtime.
• Excessive alcohol or caffeine intake during the day or near bedtime.
• Smoking, especially near bedtime.
• Certain medications, including SSRIs.
• Sleep apnea.

• Disturbed sleep and increased chances of sleep disorders.
• Damage to your teeth, including erosion and cracked teeth.
• Jaw and facial pain.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

Dr. Hadjian will diagnose your bruxism based on your symptoms, a physical exam, dental x-rays, and information about your lifestyle and habits. The treatment she recommends will depend on the underlying causes of your bruxism and what type of bruxism you have. She will provide patient education on how to stop teeth grinding and how to stop clenching teeth at night and offer information and resources on stress management. In some cases, stress management and stress reduction techniques like meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and guided meditation can help. You may also need to make lifestyle changes, like reducing caffeine or alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and exercising right before bed. She may also recommend a bruxism mouth guard to reduce your risk of damage to your teeth and jaw when you grind your teeth at night.

If you have symptoms of bruxism or want to know how to stop grinding your teeth, call Fatemeh Hadjian, DDS, PA, or contact us online. Dr. Hadjian has over two decades of experience in dental care and is committed to strong patient-doctor relationships and personalized care and attention. Her goal is to provide holistic dental care and improve each patient’s overall health and wellness.