Millions of adults around the world struggle with bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding. There are many factors that go into the habit including stress, anxiety, posture, misaligned teeth, diet, and sleeping habits. Teeth grinding occurs when adults grind their teeth or clench their jaw during their sleep. Some are aware that they do it, some are not. One of the symptoms of this dangerous habit is teeth grinding ear pain.
When someone grinds their teeth at night they are inducing constant stress and force on not only their teeth but muscles of the jaw, neck, and face. As the muscles are pushed to exhaustion, they can become sore and begin hurting resulting in teeth grinding ear pain. With your jaw connected to your skull by muscle joints, these joints become overworked when you clench down during your sleep. These muscles are the same ones that are surrounding the ear and as a result, can make your ears sensitive or hurt.
Teeth grinding ear pain can become so severe that you may believe you have an ear infection. While this may seem like a reasonable conclusion, the reality is that the most common cause of ear pain in adults is from TMJ otherwise known as the temporomandibular joint that connects the jaw to the skull. Some of the surrounding ligaments that hold them together are connected to the ears and help support them. This is why if you are clenching your jaw at night, you may have teeth grinding ear pain. One of the signs that you are suffering from teeth grinding is if your ears are extra sensitive or begin to hurt during the night or early morning. This pain can be magnified when eating due to the constant opening and closing of the mouth.
If you are unsure of whether you have an ear infection or whether you are suffering from clenching your jaw at night, check your hearing. An ear infection can lead to loss of hearing or not being able to hear as well. Teeth grinding on will not affect your hearing but it can cause a stuffy sensation. If you yawn and experience a burst of pain that is a giveaway that you’re grinding your teeth at night.
You may not be able to control the stress and anxiety of life, but you can sleep better at night not worrying about waking you or your partner up with the dreaded teeth grinding ear pain. This solution is very comfortable and affordable compared to being charged by dentists. Wearing a night guard can provide instant defense against teeth grinding ear pain.
SportingSmiles offers six different types of night guards all designed to combat a specific type of teeth grinding or clenching to relieve teeth grinding ear pain. The most popular night guard that SportingSmiles crafts are the Super Hard Flexible. It’s the most durable guard designed for the most intense clenching and grinding. Instead of suffering another night with teeth grinding, skip the dentist and order a SportingSmile custom night guard today!
