Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding is involuntary clenching, grinding and gnashing of the teeth. It is consideration that concerning semi of the population bruxes from occasion to occasion, while around five per cent are habitual and forceful tooth grinders. It generally happens during sleep, but some people experience it when they are awake.

Bruxism can be a physical phrase of stress; for example, vulnerable people may tend to grind their teeth when they are annoyed, concentrating hard on a particular task or feeling nervous.

Commonly, the person doesn't realize that they grind their teeth in their sleep. The spouse or partner who shares their bed is often the first to notice the problem.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of bruxism include:

• Audible grinding sounds while the person is asleep
• Headache, jaw joint and/or ear pain
• Aching teeth, particularly upon waking
• Aching and/or stiffness of the face and temples upon waking
• Aching or stiffness in the jaws while chewing, particularly during breakfast
• Clenching the jaw when angry, anxious or concentrating
• Temperature-sensitive teeth
• Cracked or chipped tooth enamel
• Tooth indentations on the tongue
• Raised tissue on the cheek mucosa caused by cheek biting
• Mobile teeth.

A range of causes

Some of the many factors believed to trigger bruxism in susceptible people include:

• Emotional stress, such as anger or anxiety
• Mental concentration
• Physical effort or stress, such as illness, nutritional deficiency or dehydration
• Incorrect tooth alignment, including fillings that are too 'high'
• Drug misuse
• Eruption of teeth.

Diagnosis

If you suspect you may grind your teeth, see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will inspect your teeth and may take x-rays to gauge the severity of the problem and the damage done to teeth and bone.