Many patients come to our Bela Family Dentistry practice complaining of sore facial muscles, a condition that most often occurs after they wake up each morning. A significant number of these patients also have worn or even flat teeth resulting from teeth grinding and clenching (a condition called bruxism) during sleep. Many of them also experience discomfort in their jaw joints and facial muscles, as well as migraines, and radiating pain throughout their neck, shoulders, and back. If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, you probably need some adjustments. For your mouth to function comfortably, your jaw joints, muscles, and teeth must all function harmoniously. When issues develop in one area, they can consequently affect other areas as well. This explains why so many people with bruxism also have TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, a misalignment of the joints connecting your jaw to your skull and allowing your mouth to move. We can treat your bruxism and the muscle pain in your face with individualized TMJ treatments, such as oral appliances, bite adjustments, and TMJ therapy with orthodontics. Reestablishing a harmonious balance among your joints, muscles, and teeth is generally all that’s necessary for you to have complete, comfortable oral function again!