We Know: All About Teeth Grinding What is teeth grinding? Teeth grinding, known in the scientific literature as bruxism, commonly occurs at night when your teeth slide in a back and forth motion, irritating sleeping partners. Such grinding at night is hard to control. In teeth grinding, your teeth move sideways in a back and forth motion, resulting in flattened grooves, uneven wear, chipped enamel, loosened or cracked teeth, and problems with the jaw or muscles around the jaw. At its extreme, it can result in a loss of teeth. What causes teeth grinding? Teeth grinding is most likely caused by stress. What symptoms are associated with teeth grinding? The symptoms associated with teeth grinding include: Soreness or painful jaws or jaw muscles Dull headaches Earaches Painful or loose teeth Sensitivity of the teeth to the extremes of temperature and pressure Indentation marks on the tongue Insomnia, eating disorders, and/or psychological disorders such as depression How is teeth grinding diagnosed? Let your dentist know if you experience any of the symptoms of bruxism. Your dentist will conduct a dental exam to look for tenderness in the jaw or loose teeth. Your dentist may recommend behavior modification, or if your case stems from a severe psychological problem, refer you back to your primary care doctor for further care. How is bruxism treated? Because teeth grinding is caused by stress, medical care professionals normally recommend stress management techniques and behavior modifications that teach you how to relax your mouth and jaw. Some teeth grinders have used non-traditional therapies to change stressful behaviors. Avoiding further dental damage is the prime objective of your dentist. Dentists will prescribe mouth guards or mouth appliances to be used at night. Mouth guards separate the upper and lower teeth to prevent contact. There are three kinds of mouth guards: Stock mouth protectors are non-adjustable guards that come ready-to-use at most department stores or sporting goods stores. These are the least expensive. Boil and bite mouth protectors is made out of thermoplastic material and adjusts to one's bite when softened in hot water and fit around the teeth using fingers and tongue. These are also found in department stores and sporting goods retailers. Customized mouth guards are the most expensive. A dentist makes an impression of your teeth and sends the mold to a laboratory that designs a customized mouth guard to fit your particular bite. These are the most comfortable and effective. Dentists may also create the night guard, called a nocturnal bite plate or splint, which attaches to the front teeth and prevents contact with the back teeth. If the mouth guard does not eliminate the teeth grinding, the dentist may recommend orthodontic treatment to correct dental deficiencies. Surgery is approached only as a last resort. How can you prevent teeth grinding? Untreated cases of teeth grinding can exacerbate existing dental problems. Decrease the symptoms of bruxism by staying away from stress-inducing behaviors, such as excessive coffee, alcohol, and tobacco intake. Ask your sleeping partner to let you know if you do engage in teeth grinding so that you can avoid additional dental damage. Visit your dentist regularly to check for dental problems associated with teeth grinding. Here is a great resource that fully explains teeth grinding, and over a dozen causes, effects and treatments.
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