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Beating The Grind: What To Do About Bruxism

By Nicole Stevenson

[Health & Your Life]

What serious health problems can bruxism lead to? Nicole Stevenson shows you how to stop your teeth from wearing away.

When you’re in a deep sleep, completely dead to the world, it’s no secret that you have no idea what’s going on around you, but you may also be oblivious to what’s going on inside your mouth too. Many people suffer from bruxism, the unconscious grinding, clenching and gnashing of teeth, without even realizing it. While some people experience bruxism during the waking hours, clenching the jaw in tense situations or grinding teeth without realizing it, bruxism is primarily a problem during sleep and can go unnoticed for some time. Often it is only when a sleep partner gets fed up with the noise or a dentist notices worn down enamel that bruxism is diagnosed. This makes it especially important to be aware of possible signs and symptoms.

Know The Signs

How do know if you are bruxing when you aren’t awake to feel it? If you share a bed, you may be told you are making gnashing sounds at night, but if you sleep alone, pay attention to the small things. Do you wake up with pain or tightness in your jaw muscles? Are you prone to unexplained earaches or tooth sensitivity? Look at your teeth closely to see if they look ground down, fractured, chipped or if the enamel is worn down to expose the dentin (the inside layer of the tooth). You may have headaches similar to tension headaches, indentations of your teeth on the sides of your tongue, chewed tissue on the inside of your cheeks, pain or tension in the face or neck or a popping sound from the temporomandibular joint (jaw). You should pay special attention to possible signs and symptoms if you find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth during the day, particularly in tense or stressful situations.

The Root Of The Problem

There is no clear-cut answer to the question, “Why do I grind my teeth?” There could be several contributing factors that can vary between individuals, but the most common is a response to stress or anxiety. While things like abnormal alignment of the teeth or adverse reactions to psychiatric drugs can lead to bruxism, it is usually thought to be caused by tension, anxiety, suppressed anger or even by an aggressive or hyperactive personality. If this anxiety or aggression is affecting other aspects of your life, talk to your doctor about therapy or medication. Otherwise, use relaxation techniques before bed in order to unwind. Instead of going straight from hectic day to bed, relax with a good book, take a nice warm bath, do relaxation exercises or listen to calming music. Taking steps to reduce stress before bedtime can leave your mind relaxed enough to stop taking it out on your teeth.

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