How Much Damage Does Teeth Grinding Really Do?
Clenching your jaws when you are stress? Many people do, but some people clench, thrust their jaw forward, or grind their teeth repeatedly without realizing they are doing it—sometimes even in their sleep. When these behaviors become habits, it is called bruxism.
It has been reported that teeth grinding, or medically called "bruxism," does not usually cause harm, but when teeth grinding occurs regularly, the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications. Teeth grinding occurs when people suffer stress due to sudden events.
While some symptoms of bruxism are less apparent, as they occur unconsciously, it is sometimes challenging to diagnose bruxism.
Common symptoms of bruxism include:
- Grinding or clenching teeth
- Worn, fractured, or chipped teeth
- Tired or taught jaw muscles
- Increased tooth pain and sensitivity
- Neck, facial, or jaw pain
- Worn tooth enamel
- Mild headaches that originate around the temples
- Pain that may feel like it occurs in the ear but, there are no signs of ear problems
- Disruption to sleep
- Damage from biting cheeks
If a sleeping disorder is causing the grinding, treating it may reduce or eliminate the grinding habit.
Other tips to help you stop teeth grinding include:
- Avoid or cut back on foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as colas, chocolate, and coffee.
- Avoid alcohol. Grinding tends to intensify after alcohol consumption.
- Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food. Avoid chewing gum as it allows your jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and makes you more likely to grind your teeth.
- Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax.
- Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
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