Most adults and some children grind their teeth. While there is nothing necessary to do for children who grind their teeth, adults should talk to their dentist. Below is an article written by staff of the Mayo Clinic. Grinding ages your teeth and can cause problems like wearing and breaking of your teeth as well periodontal/gum problems. We recommend using an appliance called NTI splint. The NTI splint is a custom splint that fits over either the upper two or lower two teeth. It disengages the jaw muscles and allows them to rest. Of course, if you have a question, call us! Find us on FB, LinkedIn, and Twitter...
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Symptoms of teeth grinding/bruxism
By Mayo Clinic staff
Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:
Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured or chipped
Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
Increased tooth sensitivity
Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
Enlarged jaw muscles
Earache — because of severe jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear
Headache
Chronic facial pain
Chewed tissue on the inside of your cheek
Indentations on your tongue
Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:
Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured or chipped
Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
Increased tooth sensitivity
Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
Enlarged jaw muscles
Earache — because of severe jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear
Headache
Chronic facial pain
Chewed tissue on the inside of your cheek
Indentations on your tongue
See your doctor or dentist if:
Your teeth are worn, damaged or sensitive
You have pain in your jaw, face or ear
Others complain that you make a grinding noise while you sleep
Your teeth are worn, damaged or sensitive
You have pain in your jaw, face or ear
Others complain that you make a grinding noise while you sleep
Causes:
Doctors don't completely understand the causes of bruxism. Possible physical or psychological causes may include:
Anxiety, stress or tension
Suppressed anger or frustration
Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type
Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)
Changes that occur during sleep cycles
Response to pain from an earache or teething (in children)
Growth and development of the jaws and teeth (for children)
Complication resulting from a disorder, such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease
An uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications, including certain antidepressants.
Anxiety, stress or tension
Suppressed anger or frustration
Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type
Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)
Changes that occur during sleep cycles
Response to pain from an earache or teething (in children)
Growth and development of the jaws and teeth (for children)
Complication resulting from a disorder, such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease
An uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications, including certain antidepressants.
Complications:
In most cases, bruxism doesn't cause serious complications. But severe bruxism may lead to:
Damage to your teeth (including restorations and crowns) or jaw
Tension-type headaches
Facial pain
Temporomandibular disorders — which occur in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), located just in front of your ears and felt when opening and closing your mouth.
Damage to your teeth (including restorations and crowns) or jaw
Tension-type headaches
Facial pain
Temporomandibular disorders — which occur in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), located just in front of your ears and felt when opening and closing your mouth.
What we do to help:
Tests and diagnosisBy Mayo Clinic staff
During regular dental exams, your dentist likely will check for physical signs of bruxism, such as:
Unusual wear and tear on your teeth
Continued breakdown of dental restorations, including loss of crowns
Tooth fractures
Tooth sensitivity
If you have any of these signs, your dentist will look for changes in your teeth and mouth over the next several visits to see if the process is progressive and to determine whether you need treatment.
If your dentist suspects that you have bruxism, he or she will try to determine its cause by asking questions about:
Your general dental health
Your daily medications
Whether you routinely drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages, especially during the evening
Your sleep habits, especially about any unusual grinding sounds heard by your roommate or sleeping partner during the night
To evaluate the extent of bruxism, your dentist may check for:
Tenderness in your jaw muscles
Obvious dental abnormalities, such as broken or missing teeth or poor tooth alignment
Damage to your teeth, the underlying bone and the inside of your cheeks, usually with the help of X-rays
A dental examination may detect other disorders that can cause similar jaw or ear pain, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, other dental disorders or an ear infection. If your dentist suspects a significant psychological component to your teeth grinding or a sleep-related disorder, you may be referred to a therapist, counselor or sleep specialist.
During regular dental exams, your dentist likely will check for physical signs of bruxism, such as:
Unusual wear and tear on your teeth
Continued breakdown of dental restorations, including loss of crowns
Tooth fractures
Tooth sensitivity
If you have any of these signs, your dentist will look for changes in your teeth and mouth over the next several visits to see if the process is progressive and to determine whether you need treatment.
If your dentist suspects that you have bruxism, he or she will try to determine its cause by asking questions about:
Your general dental health
Your daily medications
Whether you routinely drink alcohol or caffeinated beverages, especially during the evening
Your sleep habits, especially about any unusual grinding sounds heard by your roommate or sleeping partner during the night
To evaluate the extent of bruxism, your dentist may check for:
Tenderness in your jaw muscles
Obvious dental abnormalities, such as broken or missing teeth or poor tooth alignment
Damage to your teeth, the underlying bone and the inside of your cheeks, usually with the help of X-rays
A dental examination may detect other disorders that can cause similar jaw or ear pain, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, other dental disorders or an ear infection. If your dentist suspects a significant psychological component to your teeth grinding or a sleep-related disorder, you may be referred to a therapist, counselor or sleep specialist.
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