Teeth Grinding In Sleep

Are you worried about teeth grinding in sleep? Both adults and children alike frequently suffer from grinding teeth during sleep. What causes people to grind teeth and what are the long term risks and treatment options available for sufferers? 

What is the condition known as teeth grinding?  eeth grinding occurs when a person grinds or clenches and moves the top row of teeth against or along the bottom row of teeth. The clenching, or forceful pressure, of the two rows of teeth together creates the familiar sound, similar to the dreaded “nails on a chalkboard” scraping noises—and often occurs as an involuntary reaction during sleep.

Who suffers from teeth grinding? Once a human has teeth, she has the ability to grind or clench those teeth during sleep or waking hours. Babies, toddlers and adults have the ability to clench and grind teeth together. The condition affects all age classes.

What causes teeth grinding in sleep? The grinding of the teeth is often caused by an uncontrollable movement called bruxism, where the patient is prone to a clenching movement of the jaw muscles. Sometimes teeth grinding may result from unexplained stress and tension—or as a side effect of a misalignment of the teeth and jaw.

What are the risks of teeth grinding during sleep? Patients suffering from teeth grinding or bruxism are prone to symptoms such as headaches or pain in the jaw. Sometimes jaw joint irritation or TMJ spasms occur as well. Long term risks include tooth enamel damage and even chipped or flattened teeth due to the pressure and grinding effects of night time bruxism.

What are some remedies for teeth grinding in sleep? Patients experiencing bruxism, or teeth grinding, due to misalignment may benefit from orthodontic treatment to realign the teeth and relieve the stress on the jaw muscles. Others find relief from wearing either basic sport mouth guards or specially designed dental mouth pieces to limit the grinding impact and pressure. Relaxation or meditation may also help to reduce teeth grinding in sleep due to stress or personal tension.