Teeth Grinding – Everything you need to know about bruxism
Stressed at work? City life taking its toll? Do you wake up with a sore head and achy jaw?
You may be one of many people who are grinding their teeth. This is a common problem often caused by stress.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth
Some people have a habit of grinding their teeth unconsciously when they are awake or more commonly during sleep. Most people are not aware of their bruxism. Only an estimated 5% go on to develop symptoms, such as jaw pain and headaches which require prompt treatment.
A sleeping partner or parent may pick up on the behaviour first, although sufferers may notice pain symptoms without understanding the cause.
Researchers classify bruxism as “a habitual behaviour and sleep disorder.” The effects of bruxism can be easily identified by your dentist. What they will see is exposed dentin and pulp, which are normally hidden by tooth enamel.
Over time, if left untreated, the dental damage will increase. If enough enamel becomes abraded, the softer dentin will be exposed, increasing the possibility of dental decay and tooth fracture.
Bruxism Symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
- Stress and tension
- Earache
- Headaches or migraines.
- Chipped or broken teeth.
- Gum recession
- Neck pain
- Sore or painful jaw.
If you have any of these symptoms, we recommend visiting Smilepod so we can check your symptoms and see if you need a custom-made mouthguard or nightguard.
To create your guard all we need to do is to make a mould for a bite plate, sometimes known as a mouth splint. Although wearing a guard will not stop you from grinding your teeth, it will help relieve all kinds of symptoms and prevent temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ) as well as unnecessary wear and tear on your teeth.
Sadly, despite being treatable, bruxism is the leading cause of occlusal trauma and a significant cause of tooth loss and gum recession. The causes of bruxism can be quite varied, ranging from allergic reactions or medical ailments to trauma (such as a car crash) to a period of unusual stress. Once bruxism
