Bruxism - Grinding or Clenching

Bruxism is when you clench (tightly hold your top and bottom teeth together) or grind (slide your teeth back and forth over each other) your teeth.  People can clench and grind without being aware of it during both the day and night, although sleep-related bruxism is often the bigger problem because it is harder to control.

The cause of bruxism is not completely agreed upon, but daily stress may be the trigger in many people. Some people may clench their teeth and never feel symptoms. Whether or not bruxism causes pain and other problems may be a complicated mix of factors including stress levels, how long and tightly you clench and grind, whether your teeth are misaligned, and sleeping habits. 

Clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. The symptoms can cause temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ).  Grinding can wear down your teeth. Grinding can be noisy enough at night to bother sleeping partners.

 To prevent damage to the teeth, mouth guards are used to treat teeth grinding, clenching, and TMJ disorders. Bruxism is not a dangerous disorder. However, it can cause permanent damage to the teeth and uncomfortable jaw pain, headaches, or ear pain and a mouth guard can prevent this.

See a dentist immediately if you are having trouble eating or opening your mouth. Keep in mind that a wide variety of possible conditions can cause TMJ symptoms, from arthritis to whiplash injuries. Therefore, see your dentist for a full evaluation if self-care measures do not help within several weeks.