Unfortunately, about 1 in 5 people grind or clench their teeth. This may be related to the way the teeth bite together, or may be a stress-induced behaviour that causes undue pressure on your teeth and can lead to:
Cracks
Pain
Toothaches
Infections
Fractured teeth
Worn teeth
Damage to the jaw joints
Headaches
Muscle aches
Pain when opening
Locked jaw
Limited opening.
In order to protect your teeth at night time when grinding is common, our dentists will create special mouth guards that can be worn during sleep. The manifestation of problems from grinding as listed above can often lend itself to complex management procedures. If you experience these symptoms, following a thorough examination and diagnosis, our dentists at Oak Tree Ballarat Dental will endeavour to find and eliminate the problem and recommend certain exercises to help with jaw/muscle pain.