Tooth grinding or bruxism, is a condition in which you grind, or clench your teeth. Sufferers of bruxism may subconsciously clench their teeth during the day, or clench and grind them at night (sleep bruxism).
Bruxism can lead to a number of health related issues including damage to your teeth, complications with the jaw, headaches, soreness in the face and neck and overall poor sleep patterns.
As you may have sleep bruxism and be unaware of it until complications develop, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to visit the dentist regularly.
For those that grind their teeth in their sleep, the most commonly recommended treatment is the use of a dental night guard. These specialized night guards look very similar to those used for sports, but are specially designed to prevent muscle tension and the repetitive pressure exerted by bruxism sufferers. While there is little specific treatment other than self-discipline for those that suffer from day-time teeth grinding, often times the use of a nightguard can help to mitigate the behavior during the day as well.