Teeth Grinding and Chronic Pain - Pain Treatment Institute Clicky
Teeth Grinding and Chronic Pain Treatments

Teeth Grinding and Chronic Pain

If you wake from what you thought was a restful night’s sleep with a sore jaw, a headache, or a neck ache, it’s likely that you were grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw as you slept. The condition is called bruxism, and it affects 1 in 10 adults at nighttime. About 15% of adolescents and up to 50% of children suffer from the uncomfortable problem, too. Our pain  management team has some advice on bruxism.

At Pain Treatment Institute, our double board-certified pain management physician, Sameer Syed, MD, MDH, meets with you at one of our offices in Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Rockwall, or Sherman, Texas. Dr. Syed’s goal is to get to the root of what’s causing your bruxism, so he can customize a plan to treat you.

Here he discusses the causes and symptoms of bruxism and what you can do to relieve the chronic pain it causes.

Common causes of teeth grinding and clenching

If you’re clenching and grinding while you sleep, it’s often due to:

  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Genetics
  • Change in sleep habits
  • Sleep apnea
  • Smoking
  • Snoring
  • Allergies
  • Dehydration
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Teeth misalignment

Teeth clenching and grinding is even associated with excessive caffeine intake.

Symptoms of teeth grinding

Some of the painful problems you may experience because of bruxism are:

  • Earaches
  • Headaches
  • Jaw pain
  • Tender gums
  • Worn-down teeth
  • Stiff, sore neck
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Fractured teeth
  • Face pain
  • Fatigue

If your teeth click when you eat or talk, that can be a sign that you grind your teeth during the night.

First-line remedies for teeth grinding

In most cases, Dr. Syed first recommends these conservative strategies to help you deal with bruxism:

  • Practice stress-reduction techniques
  • Wear a mouthguard when you sleep
  • Correct misalignments with braces or Invisalign®
  • Sleep on your side or back
  • Maintain regular dental checkups to catch problems early
  • Schedule regular physical therapy sessions for your jaw
  • Make time for therapeutic massages
  • Use heat therapy
  • Have acupuncture treatments

If you’ve already tried these options and you require further intervention to relieve chronic pain that’s caused by grinding and clenching, he tailors your treatment plan using a multimodal approach.

To stop your tooth clenching and grinding, he may recommend one or a combination of therapies, including muscle relaxers, antidepressants, pain medications, Botox® injections, fluoroscopic or ultrasound-guided injections, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

You don’t have to live with migraines, toothaches, sore gums, daily headaches, earaches, or any other kind of persistent pain that teeth clenching causes.

Accepting New Patients

Pain Treatment Institute is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, simply contact our office.

Latest Blog Posts

5 Qualities of the Best Pain Treatment Physician

5 Qualities of the Best Pain Treatment Physician

Millions of Americans suffer from pain. The Pain Physical Journal noted that more than 26 million of the working population aged 20 to 64 have frequent low back pain. It also showed that individuals with back pain spend 60% more on healthcare expenses than those...

When Should You Contact a Back Pain Doctor?

When Should You Contact a Back Pain Doctor?

Is your back acting up lately? Back pain is common and affects a person’s quality of life. In fact, it is the primary cause of work limitations all over the world. Around 50-80% of individuals experience at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime. It may only...

What to Look For in a Neck Pain Expert

What to Look For in a Neck Pain Expert

Neck pain is a condition characterized by pain or discomfort in the neck area. A number of things, such as degenerative diseases, bad posture, muscle strain, and herniated discs, can cause it. It can range in severity from minor to severe. Neck pain is a common...

Clinic Hours

Monday – Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm
Friday: 8:30am to 3:00pm
Saturday – Sunday: Closed

Scheduling

Pain Treatment Institute
p: (214) 817-4225
f: (972) 674-2788
e: contact@painti.com

Our Locations

Frisco Pain Management Clinic
9456 State Highway 121
Suite 100
Frisco, TX 75035

Plano Pain Management Clinic
3151 W. 15th St
Suite B
Plano, TX 75075

McKinney Pain Management Clinic
7668 Eldorado Pkwy
Suite 100
McKinney, TX 75072

Rockwall Pain Management Clinic
3136 Horizon Rd
Suite 100
Rockwall, TX 75032

Sherman Pain Management Clinic
1701 U.S. 75
Suite #100
Sherman, TX 75090

Mesquite Pain Management Clinic
1320 N. Galloway
Suite #106
Mesquite, TX 75149