Millions of people suffer from bruxism which is the term for teeth grinding. Grinding teeth is something that is caused by any number of things but most doctors and dentists blame it on stress and anxiety. It can also be caused by abnormal biting, sleep disorders, and crooked teeth. As you can tell, if you are a sufferer of bruxism, it may not be easy to determine exactly what the cause is.



Many children grind their teeth but the good news is that for most of them, it is a temporary condition. They are unfamiliar with their new teeth and they grind them out of habit but once they get used to the new and different feeling in their mouth caused by their teeth, they stop grinding them.

Adult teeth grinding can be mild or it can be so violent that the teeth become damaged. Most people who suffer from bruxism have a mild case of grinding teeth at night while they sleep. Many of them might not even know they do it. Over time however, this nightly damage can add up. If you know you grind your teeth at night, it is best to find a solution right away rather than waite until more damage is done. Adults who have bruxism do not usually just stop their grinding for no reason. If you are a bruxer, you will most likely continue grinding until you figure out how to cure it.

In some cases, the biting at night can be much stronger than what you might do when you are awake during the day. People have been known to exert up to five times more pressure at night than they do when they are awake. This leads to jaw aches, head aches, chipped teeth, and worn down teeth.

Is there a cure to grinding teeth? Most dentists will want to fit you with a mouth guard to use while you sleep. These are custom made and thus quite expensive, usually costing over $500.00. If you get one of these mouth guards, you may be protecting your teeth but you are not finding a cure. You may still wake up with the sore jaws and the head aches. The mouth guard doesn't stop the problem of teeth grinding, it just minimizes the damage. Getting a mouth guard is the natural course of action for most bruxers but finding the cure and stopping the condition is the better path.

Working on your stress levels and finding a way to reduce tension may be a better plan of attack to stop grinding teeth. If you can reduce your stress you will also reduce your unconscious desire to clench and grind your teeth. You can also work on reducing your stress right before you go to bed by doing jaw excesses. There is a way for everyone to cure their own case of grinding teeth. You just have to find it.