How often do you think about your teeth? When you eat, smile, kiss someone, or even pose for a photo?

Teeth grinding is one of those things we think we don’t do and secretly HOPE we NEVER ever do because it means a lot about our health.

The urge (and action of) means we have some sort of underlying stress that manifests in a destructive pattern that destroys our teeth. Needless to say, it can irritate and scare our spouse or sleeping partner.

The typical solution is to see your dentist and get a night guard which prevents destruction of your teeth but doesn’t stop the grinding from happening. It’s a fantastic band-aid, but is it possible to quit?

With the correct technique and protocol, you bet. Read on.

The jaw, also known as TMJ, is best friends with the upper cervical spine (the top of your neck). The top of the neck shifts out of alignment in response to physical, emotional, or chemical stress. Think having a desk job, riding a roller coaster, sleeping on a garbage pillow, cracking your own neck, car accidents, your sibling hitting you on the head, birth trauma, stomach sleeping, etc.

When the top of the neck shifts it’s commonly asymptomatic for a long time, but the jaw begins to compensate. Your nervous system puts you in a pseudo fight/flight response and you begin to develop migraines, headaches, irritability, sleep problems, gain 5-10 stubborn vanity pounds AND then nighttime teeth grinding begins.

Do you ever wake up with your mouth dry and your face (cheeks) sore while feeling groggy or bitchy in the morning? How about a headache or neck pain? On your stomach with your face turned and your lower back sore right in the center? Are dental crowns grouped together on one side of your mouth? Wet spots on your pillow from drooling at night or your partner whining that your snoring kept them up? The most interesting to many …..is your normal posture hunched over in the midback area as if you’re fixing to sign up for a nursing home when you retire?

The above are signals that the cause of grinding is likely from an upper cervical or cranial misalignment aka subluxation. When these specific areas become tweaked from stress and the grinding pattern begins, upper cervical chiropractic and cranial care resolves the cause of the grind allowing you to heal and no longer ruin your teeth while you sleep.

Just like any MD or DO with a specialty, not all chiropractors (DCs) work with teeth grinders. It’s important to find a doctor who is familiar with diagnosing and correcting these particular subluxation patterns that way you get the results you want.

At Health by the Sea, we got you covered. Dr. Fattie specializes in TMJ, cranial, and upper cervical issues. Her extremely detailed exam, nerve scan, and x-ray analysis allow her to produce an accurate diagnosis and specific corrective care plan to resolve and prevent teeth grinding.

Still not sure? Give us a call today to schedule a free consult to get your questions out and discover if we’re a fit for your needs.