Having your teeth hurt when you wake up in the morning can ruin your entire day. This kind of pain can potentially last for hours, and unfortunately, it could also be hurting your teeth. If you're worried about why your teeth hurt and want it to stop, read on to discover what the reason for it likely is and what you can do to mitigate the risk to your teeth and reduce your pain level.
Teeth Grinding
The most likely cause behind your pain is that you're grinding your teeth in your sleep. Unfortunately, many people do this and don't realize it because they only grind when they're asleep.
When people go to sleep stressed out, go to sleep tense, or have a bad dream, they often tense up their muscles as a result. This includes those that control the jaw. Unfortunately, this can lead to some or all of your teeth hurting because they've been rubbing against each other all night.
Risk of Damage
Grinding your teeth always comes with the risk of hurting your teeth. There are two main ways that this can happen.
The first is that the simple act of grinding and rubbing your teeth together can gradually wear them down. Over a long period of time, this can make teeth shorter, changing the way that your jaw looks and feels at rest. On top of that, if it goes on for long enough, the inner surfaces of the tooth can be exposed, and it can lead to more pain, except the kind that follows you day and night, not just mornings.
Secondly, your teeth can be damaged from becoming cracked. Excessive pressure over a long period of time can cause cracks in teeth that have to be repaired with fillings.
What to Do
If you think that you might be a teeth grinder, you should visit a dental service right away. They can not only help you to repair any damage that's already been done to your teeth, but they can make a custom mouthguard for you. This slim-fitting mouthguard will ensure that your teeth are protected when you sleep and don't endure any more damage. It will also dramatically reduce the amount of discomfort you feel in the morning.
Grinding your teeth is bad news that can result in damage over the long-term. Protect your teeth now by getting a custom made grinding guard just for you from your dentist.
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