Bruxism is a sleep disorder that causes sufferers to grind their teeth while asleep.



It affects over 20 million people and if left untreated can wear down your teeth

and cause headaches, and ear ache. Bruxism can also lead to jaw pain and if you

have any existing dental health problems it could make them much worse.

Over the long term bruxism can eventually wear away the enamel on your teeth

causing sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Eating ice cream or drinking hot

tea could become very painful.

What causes bruxism? It seems that many people who suffer from sleep apnea

also suffer from bruxism. Sleep apnea is when someone stops breathing for a

very short time during sleep and is associated with loud snoring.

Bruxism can be caused by stress, making your jaw muscles stiff and tense. You

could try relaxation exercises to ease your tension and try and resolve the

issues that are making you stressed. Regular daily exercise can help to ease

stress as it releases endorphins which are natural painkillers that also produce

feelings of happiness and wellbeing.

Smoking and drinking to much alcohol or caffeine can also aggravate the condition

as they are all stimulants. Try cutting back on coffee especially a few hours

before you go to bed. You could try drinking decaffeinated coffee instead. Bruxism

can be a side effect of prescription drugs such as anti depressants.

Dental malocclusion is when the teeth are not properly aligned and don't fit

together. This condition may result in bruxism with a subconscious reaction

to the abnormality by grinding the teeth into correct alignment. Regular check

ups at your dentist should reveal any underlying dental problems and prompt

treatment will save a lot of problems in the future.

If your dentist suspects that you suffer from bruxism he will probably recommend

a mouth guard for you to wear at night preventing you from grinding your teeth

in your sleep.