Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, causes people to grind and gnash their teeth. While some people subconsciously perform this habit during the day, many do so at night. If you suspect nightly teeth grinding, visit your dentist to determine a plan to stop it. Use this guide to familiarize yourself with the causes and symptoms of this condition before you head to your appointment.

What Is Bruxism?

Causes

Bruxism often occurs because of stress and anxiety. Work deadlines, problems with personal relationships, and other difficulties can cause you to clench your jaw and wear down your teeth. Some stressed individuals will grind their teeth while they’re awake, but the habit sometimes continues throughout the night.

Jaw misalignments from muscle or joint issues can also cause bruxism. Grinding can occur because of illnesses and hereditary conditions or as a side effect of certain medications. Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and cerebral palsy can affect the nerves and muscles to increase the chances of teeth grinding.

Symptoms

Grinding at night eventually causes your pearly whites to feel flat and look worn down. The pressure on teeth from bruxism can also cause them to fracture. You may wake up with headaches, jaw pain, and neck tension or notice increased tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink.

Sensitivity occurs when the protective enamel wears down and exposes the dentin made of blood vessels and nerves. Additional symptoms include restless sleep and soft tissue damage in the cheeks.

Possible Treatments

Reduce tooth wear and related problems with stress management techniques such as deep breathing and meditation, exercise, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Avoid chewing gum because it gets the jaw used to clenching, and apply warm compresses to the area before bed to relax the muscles.

If your symptoms continue or increase in severity, see your dentist about a night guard. Customized night guards provide teeth with protective barriers to minimize wear and pain. 

If you think you have bruxism, make an appointment with Gleason Dental Clinic to discuss night guards and other treatments. Featuring three dentists on staff, this dental clinic provides general, family, and cosmetic dentistry services to residents throughout Beatrice, NE, and the surrounding areas. Call (402) 228-3119 to schedule an appointment, or visit the dentists online for treatment details. Read their latest reviews and find updates on Facebook.