What is Bruxism?


Bruxism is the technical name for teeth grinding, clenching the jaw, that sometimes happens to people as they sleep or concentrate. It can happen while sleeping or while awake; consciously or without knowing it; to adults as well as to children. It’s more common than many imagine… and, thankfully, it’s also easy to treat.
Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw is more than nervous habits to be ignored; such acts can mean serious problems for oral health, including excessive tooth wear and/or the development of Temporomandibular joint – or TMJ – syndrome. One of the simplest and best solutions is to see a dental professional about wearing a custom-made mouthguard specifically designed to reduce teeth grinding.

Causes and Effects of Bruxism

The primary causes of bruxism are stress and anxiety. At first, a person may be conscious of doing this (if they’re awake), but over time, the physical activity itself becomes a habit. Once the clenching and grinding are automatic, they are hard to stop.
What are the signs of bruxism? Common symptoms include sore jaw muscles or joints, sore teeth, dull headaches, and restless sleep. The results can be painful and even debilitating, not to mention unattractive. Severe jaw pain, damaged teeth, and loss of hearing are both short and long-term results of bruxism that, if let go too long, can result in expensive dental repairs, including crowns, bridges and implants, and hearing aids to accommodate any hearing loss.

Mouth Guard to the Rescue
The simplest solution for preventing damage to teeth from bruxism is the use of a professionally made mouth guard. If you detect any of the warning signs mentioned above, then tell your dentist that you believe that you (or maybe a family member) is grinding their teeth or clenching the jaw.
Thankfully, if you are unaware of the habit, your dentist may notice it during your oral exam. Excessive wear on the back molars and enamel loss both indicate bruxism, and both are signs your dentist will look for.A mouth guard for teeth grinding is a custom-fitted oral appliance that is made of plastic. This type of mouthguard is worn during sleep and prevents the teeth from scraping against each other. By addressing bruxism early with professional treatment, you can prevent widespread damage to your teeth.
A mouth guard for teeth grinding is a custom-fitted oral appliance that is made of plastic. This type of mouthguard is worn during sleep and prevents the teeth from scraping against each other. By addressing bruxism early with professional treatment, you can prevent widespread damage to your teeth.
Unfortunately, if you’ve waited too long to address any of the symptoms of bruxism, in addition to prescribing a mouth guard, your dentist may have to restore damaged teeth with crowns or fillings to improve oral function and maintain the proper shape and size of the teeth.

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