Imagine being crushed by 250 pounds! YOWZERS! Well, you may be one of the 30 million Americans who grind, clench and gnash your teeth on a nightly basis. Clenching and grinding are medically known as bruxism and for all you bruxers out there, you are unknowingly exerting a range of 100 to 600 pounds per square inch of force on your poor little teeth!

Many people do not realize they grind their teeth. Bruxism usually occurs during the night and may become strident enough to awaken their sleep partner. Some tell-tale signs are associated with TMJ disorders such as soreness near the ears when yawning or chewing, tenderness of the jaw muscles, clicking or popping of the jaw and headaches. Additional symptoms may include worn down, flattened, fractured, loose or chipped teeth; chewed-up cheek tissue; increased tooth sensitivity and ultimately tooth loss.

What triggers bruxism?

Unfortunately, the exact cause of bruxism is unknown. However, stress and anxiety are believed to be the chief cause…so calm down and RELAX! An abnormal bite and missing or crooked teeth are thought to elicit grinding and clenching as well. Children are often prone to bruxism as grinding may be related to growth and development of the jaw and teeth. Conversely, juvenile bruxism will usually disappear by adolescence.

Specific treatments for bruxism should be determined by your dental practitioner. In many cases, bruxism can be treated by a custom-made mouth guard or splint prescribed by your dentist. In other circumstances, clenching and grinding may be successfully treated by specialized behavior modifications which involve relaxing the tongue and lips. Other reported treatments include daily exercise, alcohol and caffeine reduction and hypnosis. To sum it up, decreasing your tension and stress will not only prolong the life of your teeth, but your life in general!

-Katie