Teeth grinding, or its scientific term, bruxism, can cause a
great deal of damage and stress to teeth – primarily by stripping teeth of
their enamel. According Mayo
Clinic, doctors are still fairly unsure about the exact causes of bruxism.
However, it appears that there are two major categories of instigators –
physical and psychological.
Physical explanations include abnormal alignment of upper
and lower teeth (malocclusion)” and “stomach acid reflux into the esophagus.
Psychological origins of the problem are more prevalent, and
bruxism in these cases often arises from anything involving a certain
personality type and as a complication arising from other sleep problems, such
as sleep apnea. Disorders such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease
can also cause bruxism. In addition to being a symptom of certain psychological
problems, teeth grinding can arise as uncommon side effect of some psychiatric
medications, or certain antidepressants. Many people also experience bruxism as
a symptom of life-related stress or anxiety.
Bruxism is not just a danger to your teeth, but also to your jaw joints, and has been known to cause tension-related
headache problems. Arguably the most difficult part of dealing with teeth
grinding is that it often happens while we’re unaware of it. Sleep bruxism is a
very common form of the condition, and because it occurs while you slumber, many
aren’t aware of the problem before
issues arise.
For this reason, it’s incredibly important that you visit
your dentist on a regular basis. Contact
Artistic Dental today if
you believe that you are suffering from bruxism and we can see whether it is a
problem that can be dealt with a relatively simple fix such as a mouth guard,
or if it requires further attention from your doctor.
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