Teeth clenching and grinding commonly occurs during deep sleep and is a usual sleeping action for individuals. For the record, nearly all people experience bruxism, the medical term for clenching of the teeth, even in daytime, especially if subjected to strong and suppressed emotions. However common it is, its symptoms must not be overlooked. Intense and regular teeth clenching can cause pressure to the teeth, which can eventually wear and chip the teeth down.
An evident cause of clenching teeth in sleep is yet to be established. Some scientists associate clenching teeth in sleep with central nervous system disorders or diseases. Some psychologists relate psychosomatic reasons as the main cause, citing stress as an influential factor. At any rate, bruxism is a condition that must not be overlooked to prevent the occurrence of more serious dental damage.
The following are symptoms and effects:
Teeth wearing. Bruxism causes pressure on the upper and lower teeth. If teeth clenching occurs regularly it is certain that the teeth will be damaged and are worn down. People with long-term and regular symptoms may have teeth that looked like it was filed down.
Chipping of the teeth. As bruxism gets more frequent over a long period of time, the teeth can break off. Chipping of the teeth might go unnoticed by the person because the cracks are too small to be seen through X-ray. Disregarding the symptoms can make the problem worse, which can lead to the damage deepening until it reaches the root canal. When this happens, a root canal therapy or operations should be done in order to replace the worn tooth.
Teeth sensitivity to cold, hot, and sweet food or beverage. If you have extremely sensitive teeth, it might be a symptom.
Premature loosening of tooth. Bruxism can loosen the tooth due to the grinding action, which makes the upper and lower teeth to rock back and forth and from side to side. This rocking motion affects the bone supporting the teeth eventually leading to teeth loosening.
Painful chewing and sore jaw. Waking up in the morning with a sore jaw can indicate this problem. The jaw around the check and temple are affected by bruxism as it overused jaw muscles during teeth grinding and clenching. It may also be a sign of TMJ problems. Difficult and painful chewing is also a sign that you are clenching teeth in sleep. This is related to jaw joints being overused and damaged by frequent teeth clenching and grinding.
Clenching teeth in sleep can be prevented by using mouth guards during sleep to prevent the teeth from unconscious clenching and grinding. If you have the mentioned syndromes, consult with a dentist to have a mouth guard fitted over your lower teeth. Do not ignore the symptoms to prevent further damage to your teeth and jaws.
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