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Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): An Overview

A Lady Grinding Teeth at Night

In layman’s terms, Bruxism means grinding of teeth. It is potentially a symptom of TMD (Temporomandibular disorder). It’s a prevalent issue, and 80% of us do it at some point in our lives. It’s essentially a para-functional habit. Which means it’s subconscious. You don’t even realize you are doing it. However, if left untreated it can eventually become very destructive. Constant grinding can strain the surface of the natural teeth and eventually wear, break or fracture your dentine.

It can happen during the day or during the night. It’s easier to deduce the problem when it occurs during the day- the time when you are conscious. But when it happens during the course of your slumber, you may not realize it until complications develop. This unconscious habit of teeth grinding while sleeping is a sleep-related movement disorder.

Usually, you are made aware of the issue by the people around you, much like snoring. Through this blog, we aim to provide an overview of Bruxism, teeth grinding symptoms and how to identify them.

Why is Bruxism a cause for concern?

Isolated teeth grinding/clenching episodes or mild bruxism do not necessarily cause harm. But when teeth grinding occurs on a frequent basis, it can lead to severe problems. At the outset, a lot of people think these are normal. Well, news flash, they are not and should not be taken lightly. These problems include-

Types of Bruxism

Depending on how Bruxism occurs, it branches off into the following categories:

Why does it happen?

Bruxism is usually caused by psychological unrest, but it can also have a genetic origin, or it may altogether be caused by other underlying diseases.

How to know if you have Bruxism?

One of the problems with bruxism, especially nocturnal bruxism is the difficulty in detecting it. Bruxists are usually unaware of their ailment until someone tells them of it or the long-term impacts become noticeable. One of the most common ways to diagnose and control it is by visiting the dentist regularly. A qualified dental professional can perceive this problem during a routine examination.

Teeth grinding symptoms

Bruxism can be mild, sporadic and have no consequences, but in most major cases, it can lead to quite a few problems.

No matter how uncomplicated Bruxism sounds, it can be difficult to self-diagnose it. Make sure to talk to your dentist if you even have a shadow of a doubt that you might be suffering from it. Also, feel free to book a consultation or contact our specialists if you have any questions.