Bruxism, also known as tooth grinding, is the medical term for clenching or grinding teeth. Many people unconsciously grind their teeth and/or clench their jaw, either while awake or during sleep. When the teeth grind against each other from side to side, it puts strain on the facial muscles, jaw muscles, and the jaw joints. It can lead to excessive wear on the teeth and may cause permanent damage to the teeth and jaw joints.
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Physical stress such as illness and nutritional deficiency
\n\tPsychological stress and anxiety
\n\tImproper occlusion or bad bite caused by irregular tooth position or poorly done fillings
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Chronic facial pain
\n\tTension headaches
\n\tThe noise of grinding teeth noticed by partners, friends or relatives
\n\tFlattened, worn surfaces of the teeth
\n\tBroken or chipped teeth
\n\tLoose teeth with possible damage to the tooth socket
\n\tStiffness and pain in the jaw joint
\n\tEarache
\n\tDifficulty chewing
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If bruxism goes undiagnosed and untreated for a prolonged period of time, it can lead to chronic stress, depression and anxiety. Bruxism is frequently misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all because it is only one of several potential causes of tooth wear. Only a trained professional can tell the difference between wear caused by bruxism and wear caused by overly aggressive brushing, acidic soft drinks, and abrasive foods.
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\n\nGum recession and tooth loss – Bruxism is one of the leading causes of gum recession and tooth loss. Grinding damages the gums directly, and leads to loose teeth and deep pockets where bacteria can collect and damage the supporting bone
\n\tOcclusal trauma – The abnormal wear patterns on the chewing surfaces can lead to fractures in the teeth, which may require restorative treatment.
\n\tArthritis – In severe and chronic cases, bruxism can eventually lead to painful arthritis in the jaw joint (temporomandibular joints), which is the joint that allows your jaw to open and close smoothly.
\n\tPain in the muscles of the face – The grinding can eventually shorten and blunt the teeth. This can lead to muscle pain in the facial region as well as debilitating headaches.
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\n\nTreatments for teeth grinding
\n\nOcclusal splints – A custom-made acrylic mouthguard can help prevent the abrasive action of tooth surfaces while sleeping. Splints are worn at night only to prevent tooth damage and damage to the jaw joint.
\n\tRelaxation exercises and stress management
\n\tPain killers for muscular facial pain and muscle relaxants to relax the jaw muscles
\n\tWhen the bruxing is under control, there are dental procedures that can restore a pleasant aesthetic appearance to the smile.
\n\tOcclusal splint
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