Stop Teeth Grinding

The result of coping with stress is grinding of teeth or clenching the jaws. This is also known as bruxism which happens when a person sleeps, caused not only by anxiety and stress but by sleep disorders and abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth. Teeth grinding could result in painful teeth or loose teeth and finally fractures in the teeth or jaw.

Teeth grinding is just a mild case and may treatment may not even be required but frequent violent teeth grinding may lead to headaches, severe jaw disorders and other problems.

Though the doctors or dentists cannot completely comprehend the cause of teeth grinding, these medical professionals suggest that the unusual alignment of the teeth may have some effect on the problem.

Most of the time, psychological factors cause teeth grinding in children or even adults. Anxiety, tension, stress, aggressiveness, suppressed anger or frustration, competitive or hyperactive personalities are some of the most observed factors in teeth grinding.

Teeth's grinding in children is related to their growth and development. It is usually common in children when their upper and lower teeth do not fit together perfectly, or may be because of anger, tension, allergy problems, as a response from pain of ear or teeth.

Some children with cerebral palsy or serious mental abnormality also grind the teeth. In some instances, teeth grinding is not just because of dental or stress problem but because of some other disorder like Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease, or a side effect of some psychiatric medicines.

Some other factors that increase the risk of teeth grinding are stress, age, nicotine, caffeine and other drugs. Teeth grinding goes off unnoticed and hence its signs and symptoms are not observed in common.

But if a person has worn teeth, pain in the jaw, ear ache, dull morning headache, chronic face pain or chewed tissue on the inside of the cheek, then seeing a dentist or doctor for medical treatment is advised.

Doctors or dentists can be aware about teeth grinding when questions are asked about the stress levels, dental care and health of the teeth, daily medications, eating and drinking habits or sleeping habits.

Examining the mouth, jaw, the tenderness of the jaw muscles, and dental abnormalities, the dentist or the doctor shall consider taking x-rays and making further study in the dental examination. Teeth grinding doesn't usually cause any serious problems, but in some cases, teeth grinding may eventually cause damage of the teeth or the jaw, facial pain and temporomandibular disorders (TMJs) occurring in the temporomandibular joints just in front of the ears and can be felt when the mouth is opened or closed.

Therefore, it is best to avoid too much stress as much as possible to keep the teeth from grinding and avoid having chipped or crooked teeth.

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