Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding and/or clenching of the teeth.
Over time this grinding can wear down the enamel, can lead to sensitive teeth.
It can also lead to TMJ problems, jaw muscle pain, chipping of teeth and damage to restorative dental work.
Your dentist will be able to notice signs of bruxism during your routine dental check up.
Bruxism is often caused by stress and anxiety. If you are stressed or anxious during the day, you are more likely to experience the effects of stress at night too, can cause jaw clenching and teeth grinding during sleep.
Signs and Symptoms:
Grinding sound at night time, which can sometimes be detected by a partner.
Headache upon waking.
Pain or tightness of jaw muscles.
Teeth that are worn down appear flattened or are chipped off.
Breaking down of dental fillings and crowns.
How to prevent Bruxism effects:
The best way to prevent damage to teeth from bruxism is the use of a professionally- made custom mouth guard.
Sleeping with the mouth guard in at night can help protect your teeth from grinding and keep your enamel healthy for longer—— not to mention, you may have fewer headaches when you wake up in the morning since the friction will be greatly reduced.
Dr Siena Pacheco