Bruxism and Migraine Treatments La Jolla, CA
Discover Relief: Effective Bruxism and Migraine Treatments for a Pain-Free Life
Bruxism is a condition that causes you to clench or grind your teeth. It can cause pain and discomfort, as well as damage to your mouth and jaw.
A Migraine is a neurological condition that causes headaches, nausea and vomiting. It’s also been linked with other symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision and sensitivity to light or sound (called photophobia).
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition that causes you to clench your teeth together. It’s also known as “jaw clenching” or “tooth grinding.” If you have bruxism, you may notice that:
- You grind your teeth at night while sleeping and wake up with sore jaws and headaches
- Your jaw feels tight or sore after eating certain foods (like popcorn)
- Your dentist has noticed damage on the surface of one or more of your teeth
What is a Migraine?
A migraine is a type of headache that can be debilitating for those who suffer from it. The exact cause of migraine is unknown, but there are several different theories as to what triggers them and how they work.
Migraine symptoms include:
- Headache (usually on one side)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light and sound (photophobia)
These symptoms may last anywhere from 4 hours to 3 days in adults and children older than 12 years old; if you have fewer than 5 attacks per month, then your doctor may not consider this condition severe enough to warrant treatment.
The Connection Between Bruxism and Migraines
Bruxism is a condition that causes you to clench your teeth, grind them together and/or bite down on something. It can happen during sleep or while awake, but it’s most common when you’re sleeping.
Treatments for Bruxism and Migraines
Open Wide La Jolla is the premier dental practice in La Jolla, CA. Our team at Open Wide La Jolla has a wealth of experience in treating bruxism and migraine patients. We offer comprehensive treatment plans that address both your dental health and overall wellness.
If you suffer from either of these conditions, we encourage you to contact us today so we can help you find relief!
Common Treatments at Open Wide La Jolla
- The Bruxism Splint is a device that fits over your teeth and jaws to prevent grinding, which is a part of general dentistry.
- Occlusal Adjustment is a treatment performed by an orthodontist or dentist to correct bite problems that may be causing you pain.
- Oral Appliance Therapy uses custom-made mouthpieces to treat bruxism, snoring, sleep apnea, TMJ disorders and other oral health issues.
Bruxism Splint
The purpose of the Bruxism Splint is to prevent teeth grinding and clenching, which can cause damage to your teeth. The splint fits over your upper and lower jaw and is worn at night while you sleep. It’s made from a thin piece of plastic that has been molded to fit snugly around your face, so it doesn’t slide or shift around while you’re wearing it.
The splint works by gently holding together the two sides of your jawbone when they come together during sleep (this is called “occlusion”). This helps keep them from moving too far apart during sleep, which prevents grinding and other damaging movements from occurring in between visits with us at Open Wide La Jolla.
Occlusal Adjustment
The purpose of the occlusal adjustment is to realign your teeth and bite. It’s a way to make sure that your jaw muscles are working properly, which can help reduce symptoms of bruxism and migraines.
The occlusal adjustment works by creating an even bite between your upper and lower teeth, which allows them to meet evenly when you close your mouth. This helps prevent grinding or clenching at night while you sleep (a major contributor to tooth wear), as well as headaches caused by tension in the muscles around the jawbone.
The benefits of getting an occlusal adjustment include:
- Less pain from headaches that could lead to migraines.
- Alleviating jaw pain caused by an uncomfortable bite.
- Reducing bruxism (teeth grinding), which can lead to tooth damage.
- Improving joint problems in the jaw and surrounding areas.
- Decreasing daily biting force, reducing stress on teeth and gums.
- Enhancing your smile’s appearance by creating a more balanced bite.
Consider an occlusal adjustment for a healthier, more comfortable smile!
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral Appliance Therapy is a non-invasive method that can be used to treat bruxism. The purpose of Oral Appliance Therapy is to prevent the teeth from clashing together during sleep, which can lead to headaches and other symptoms associated with migraine.
Oral Appliance Therapy works by applying pressure on the upper jaw while you’re sleeping so that it stays closed when you’re asleep. This prevents your teeth from grinding together and alleviates some of the pain associated with migraines or tension headaches caused by this condition.
The benefits of using an oral appliance include:
- Reduced risk of developing TMJ (temporomandibular joint) syndrome, also known as “jaw lock” or TMJD (temporomandibular joint dysfunction). This condition causes chronic pain in your face due to misalignment between your jaw joints resulting from abnormal stress placed on them over time by bruxism;
- Increased comfort level while sleeping;
- Improved dental health due to less wear-and-tear on enamel surfaces caused by grinding against each other throughout one’s lifetime
Understanding the connection between migraine and bruxism is important. Dr. Dains and his dental services team can help identify any underlying issues with your bite or jaw alignment that may be causing these problems. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step towards relief from your migraine and bruxism symptoms.