Teeth Grinding: What You Should Know

Everyone copes with stress in a different way. Some of us do it by clenching our jaws. This can also lead to teeth grinding while we are asleep. The scientific name for grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws is bruxism and it comes with potentially serious dental implications.Stress isn't the only reason you may clench or grind your teeth. Teeth grinding can be caused not just by stress and anxiety, but by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth.If you don't know whether or not you are grinding your teeth, symptoms to look out for include headaches, jaw soreness, loose, fractured, or pain in your teeth.If you don't have someone who can observe your teeth grinding when you are asleep and you're just not sure that symptoms are giving you a strong indication, your dentist may also be able to identify if you are doing it. During regular check ups or cleaning, they may notice wearing in your teeth.Teeth grinding isn't just a minor annoyance, it can lead to lost or fractured teeth. It can cause or exacerbate TMD/TMJ (a disorder involving jaw muscles and joints), and even affect your hearing. Teeth grinding can also make it necessary to seek various dental treatments, such as bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, and partial or complete dentures.One way to fight teeth grinding is to have your dentist fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth while asleep. Your dentist or doctor may also recommend a muscle relaxant before bed. You can also go natural routes, if stress is the cause: meditation or counseling sessions.Teeth Grinding in ChildrenIf your child grinds their teeth, there may be different reasons. Also, the consequences tend to be less damaging and usually does not require treatment since their teeth and jaws change and grow so rapidly. Most kids will outgrow it.