Teeth grinding, also called Bruxism, is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth unconsciously. It usually occurs during sleep, but it can also happen when one is awake.
Teeth grinding is often related to stress and anxiety. Other risk factors are sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea, certain anti-depressants, smoking tobacco, drinking lots of alcohol and caffeine, and taking drugs like ecstasy and cocaine.
Effects of teeth grinding are worn-down teeth, which leads to increased pain and sensitivity, chipped teeth, cracked teeth, loose teeth, gum recession, headache, earache, sleep disruption and a painful jaw, which can lead to a condition called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
Treatment focuses on reducing damage to the teeth via a mouth guard (worn at night) and addressing factors that may contribute to the bruxism such as stress management, behavioral or lifestyle changes, exercises, changing certain medications or treating associated conditions, such as sleep apnea.
