Why do I wake up with pain in my jaw?

jaw pain

Due to today's lifestyle, jaw pain upon waking up in the morning has become a fairly common problem among the young and adult population. What is the cause of this? Clenching and grinding of the teeth is usually the main reason, although there are many others associated with it.

The vast majority of the adult population suffers from bruxism, yet many of those affected do not know it. The stress and tension of everyday life is maintained throughout the night, preventing rest and causing various consequences.

How can I avoid jaw pain when I wake up? What solutions are available to relieve muscle tension and increased sensitivity in this area? We tell you everything you need to know to treat it.

Why do I wake up with jaw pain?

In general, jaw pain upon awakening is usually not serious. Whether your jaw hurts on one side only, or you feel tension on both sides of your face, it is most likely due to grinding your teeth at night.

Likewise, pain is not always noticed at the level of the jaw. In addition to this, there are other symptoms that help us to detect a problem of nocturnal bruxism, helping us in the diagnosis:

  • Neck or side of head pain
  • Discomfort inside the ear
  • Mouth opening problems or limitations
  • Noises, crunching and discomfort when opening and closing the mouth, located in the temporomandibular joint.

Another very common symptom is having the feeling of not having rested at night despite having slept. The stress that affects us in our daily lives prevents us from resting properly and this translates into physical problems at different levels, including in the mouth.

What is the relationship between stress and toothache? We tell you about it in more detail in the KIN blog.

What problems can jaw pain cause?

Teeth grinding is related to multiple problems in the oral cavity beyond jaw pain upon awakening. This sustained tension, not only during the night's rest, but sometimes also during the day, has consequences at the oral level.

Along with lack of rest at night, headaches, neck and jaw pain, other small problems are appearing without us realizing it. Among them, oral health experts point out:

  • Tooth enamel wear
  • Small cracks in the dental pieces
  • Breakage of some parts
  • Increased tooth sensitivity
  • Trauma to the gums
  • Gingivitis or inflammation of the gums

It is of utmost importance to detect and treat these problems in time, finding the best solution for each patient. Bruxism causes wear of the dental pieces, besides being related to other oral problems such as caries or periodontitis.

What nighttime habits can affect my oral health?

Many sleep disorders are directly related to oral health. In order to ensure good rest, it is important for all patients, at any age, to avoid certain habits that could worsen the symptoms of bruxism.

Stress, anxiety, caffeine and alcohol consumption are some of the main triggers of jaw pain upon awakening.

In addition, dental alignment must be considered, as some types of malocclusions contribute to increased tooth wear and certain gum conditions.

How to improve the quality of sleep and take care of dental health?

The bruxism is a mainly involuntary jaw movement, which patients perform while sleeping or during the day without realizing it. It can be manifested by clenching, knocking or rubbing the teeth, in addition to other movements that require high muscle tension.

What can I do to prevent nighttime bruxism while maintaining good oral health? Here are some guidelines you can follow:

  • Avoid drinking stimulant or alcoholic beverages before going to bed.
  • Limit the time of exposure to screens and electronic devices before going to bed.
  • Practice relaxation exercises before going to bed to get a better rest.
  • Do stretching exercises to strengthen and relax the jaw and neck muscles.
  • Use mouthguards or dental splints during sleeping hours.
  • Avoid nail biting or biting hard objects.
  • Daily physical exercise

It is very important to include the advice given by your dentist to protect your dental health and avoid as much as possible jaw pain when you wake up in the morning. Gradually, with the passage of time, this will gradually subside and disappear, so you can enjoy a healthier sleep and a complete rest.

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Treatment of tooth sensitivity

As we have already mentioned, many patients who have bruxism are not aware of it. Most suffer the symptoms for a long time until they finally find the reason or are detected at the dentist's office after a routine checkup.

Until diagnosis, the progressive wear of the teeth due to grinding can lead to the appearance of tooth sensitivity. Along with treatment in the clinic to relieve and stop the symptoms of bruxism, patients with hypersensitivity can continue at home with other highly recommended practices.

The first and most important is to maintain proper oral hygiene, using the most appropriate tools for tooth sensitivity. Among them, the use of toothbrushes with extra soft filaments, as well as products that reduce tooth sensitivity and improve the patient's daily life.

The SensiKIN SensiKIN line includes toothpaste, Mouthwash, gel and oral spray that act by reducing the discomfort in teeth and gums related to hypersensitivity. These can be used together or separately according to the needs of each patient, providing complete oral hygiene and care.

Controlling the consumption of carbonated beverages, foods rich in sugars, foods with high acidity, as well as avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking or alcohol consumption, are other guidelines to be considered.

Without forgetting the regular check-ups with the dentist to monitor the state of oral health, detecting and treating in time various problems that are the order of the day in an increasingly younger population such as jaw pain upon waking up.

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