Teeth Grinding - Is There A Remedy That Works?

Although "bruxism" may not be a familiar term to most people, "tooth grinding" is. Tooth grinding (or bruxism) is the habit of grinding teeth and/or clenching one's jaw and can affect anyone from a young child to a grown adult. This habit usually occurs unnoticed to the sufferer and most commonly occurs at night whilst sleeping. With a few simple lifestyle and diet changes and bruxism treatments this painful aspect of your life can be in the past.

Symptoms for Teeth Grinding

There are a number of symptoms and signs that can suggest that one is suffering from teeth grinding even if it is a completely unconscious act. A bruxism sufferer would most likely experience some kind of facial pain usually centered around the jaw. In turn, this may lead to earaches and contractions in the jaw muscles. In the cases of children, chewing the inside of their cheek, sucking their thumb or gnawing on toys could be a sign. An irritable feeling combined with any of these symptoms may also be indicative of a habit of grinding teeth.

Causes of Teeth Grinding

The causes of grinding teeth are difficult to pinpoint and are largely unknown but most cases are usually caused by stress and mental problems or simply a misalignment of the teeth. The top and bottom teeth being out of alignment is the main cause of grinding teeth in children but for an even younger child, the cause can often be appointed to facial pain such as earache. However, children, unlike most adults, tend to outgrow grinding teeth problems before it becomes a serious issue.

The nocturnal form of bruxism can be more serious than its day-to-day counterpart as the sufferer often grinds their teeth much harder, up to six times more powerfully than during the day! Although you may not have realised, you might have suffered from this particular form of tooth grinding at some point in your life.

Diagnosis of Teeth Grinding

Another possible cause of teeth grinding has been shown to be dehydration. This is another reason why cutting out alcohol (which heavily dehydrates the body) can help to stop teeth grinding. It is suggested that the sufferer should increase their intake of water to keep the body hydrated and thus counter the habit.

Complications Caused by Teeth Grinding

Long term teeth grinding can lead to a number of complications. Loosened teeth, and chipped enamel on the tooth's surface are some of the first effects. Eventually, a sufferer may experience severe facial pain and jaw ache as well as an increased sensitivity to temperatures inside the mouth. In cases of chronic teeth grinding complications such as temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) which affects the "hinged" part of your jaw.

How to Stop Teeth Grinding

Treatment of bruxism can take a number of forms. If you believe you or your child have been suffering from grinding teeth problems then it is wise to consult your dentist. Your dentist is able to determine the likely causes of teeth grinding by studying the alignment of the teeth and will be able to suggest an appropriate course of treatment depending on the factors involved.

A mouth guard is one of the most often recommended remedies for bruxism. It is similar to an athletic mouth protector that one wears at night to prevent the teeth from being ground together. It has a high success rate is reducing the habit but can be uncomfortable for some people. Ready-made mouth guards can be purchased at most drugstores but made to fit custom ones may be purchased from your dentist and can provide more comfort for the wearer.

Another treatment that has shown a fairly high success rate in bruxism treatments is hypnosis. This is suggested as a final resort if no success has been had with previous treatments.

So, however uncomfortable, stressful and painful bruxism or grinding teeth may be, there are a wide number of tried and tested options and remedies out there for sufferers to try.

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