Bruxism is the clenching or grinding of the teeth that often occurs while a person is sleeping. There are many causes of bruxism. Whatever the cause, it is important to treat bruxism early to prevent damage and restore harmony to your mouth.
The symptoms of bruxism include a sore tired jaw, difficulty in opening and closing your mouth, sensitive teeth, headaches or earaches, pain in your jaw joints. It is also possible that you clench and grind your teeth, and yet notice no symptoms at all.
When you clench and grind the force on your teeth is many times greater than during normal chewing. These forces can cause: flattened or worn-down teeth, loss of tooth enamel near the gum line, fractured or loose teeth, damage to the jawbone or jaw joints.
Sometimes, missing teeth worn teeth, spaces between teeth, or teeth that are out of alignment may cause grinding and clenching also. In this case, bridges, crowns, equilibration, orthodontic, or other dental treatments can often restore your bite and eliminate grinding and clenching.
A common and effective treatment for stopping the damage caused by bruxism is the use of of a nightguard. This is a plastic device that fits over your top or bottom teeth and protects your teeth by absorbing the forces caused by grinding. A custom nightguard, made from models of your teeth, usually offers the most effective and comfortable protection.
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