The practice of grinding one’s teeth (referred to as “bruxism” in the professional world) doesn’t seem like a very big issue on the surface. It seems like a simple bad habit, much like chewing on one’s finger nails or cracking one’s knuckles. But unlike those habits, teeth grinding can be a result of some serious health issues, and it can also cause serious health problems beyond normal dental health concerns.
Bruxism is a condition that can appear and disappear without much warning. Experts note that anywhere between 5% and 20% of all Americans suffer from teeth grinding, and that the current estimated number of adults who grind their teeth is around 40 million. Although the practice of grinding one’s teeth together is fairly straightforward, the health issues causing bruxism are a bit more complicated and can vary from person to person. Just a few examples of causes are…
- A misaligned jaw bone and/or crooked teeth that are conducive to grinding
- The presence of other sleep disorders, like sleep apnea or severe snoring — especially when a person grinds their teeth primarily at night
- And most often, the presence of increased stress and severe anxiety
The consequent results of grinding one’s teeth are even more complicated and painful than the causes, in many cases — largely because so many people don’t realize that they grind their teeth until health problems have escalated. It’s estimated that about 20% of all teeth grinders don’t even know that they have this habit; even if they are aware, nighttime grinding is obviously pretty difficult to control. Some of the more common results of teeth grinding are…
- Damage to the teeth themselves, including worn-down enamel, shorter teeth, and dulled teeth
- Muscular pain throughout the jaw, often going up the head and causing earaches and migraines
- Insomnia and increased anxiety (when the person is aware of the habit), an inability to relax, and a necessary change in diet (should the teeth/gums/jaw become too sensitive to sustain a normal diet)
Luckily, treating bruxism is often as simple as using soft plastic night guards at night, and avoiding things like caffeine and alcohol during the day to reduce daytime anxiety and stress. For more serious cases of bruxism that result from jaw or teeth misalignment, specialized dentists are able to fix the problem surgically. See more.