Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of bruxism include:
•Audible grinding sounds while the person is asleep
•Headache, jaw joint and/or ear pain
•Aching teeth, particularly upon waking
•Aching and/or stiffness of the face and temples upon waking
•Aching or stiffness in the jaws while chewing, particularly during breakfast
•Clenching the jaw when angry, anxious or concentrating
•Temperature-sensitive teeth
•Cracked or chipped tooth enamel
•Tooth indentations on the tongue
•Raised tissue on the cheek mucosa caused by cheek biting (linea alba)
•Mobile teeth.
Complications of bruxism
Teeth grinding can cause a range of dental problems, which may include:
•Cracked tooth enamel
•Excessive wear and tear on the teeth
•Broken teeth or restorations
•Strain on the joints and soft tissue of the jaw joint (temporo-mandibular joint)
•Temporo-mandibular disorder
•Tooth loss (rarely)
•Enlargement of the jaw muscles (rarely).
A range of causes
Some of the many factors believed to trigger bruxism in susceptible people include
• Emotional stress, such as anger or anxiety
• Mental concentration
• Physical effort or stress, such as illness, nutritional deficiency or dehydration
• Incorrect tooth alignment, including fillings that are too ‘high’
• Drug misuse (particularly amphetamines)
• Eruption of teeth (babies and children).
Diagnosis
If you suspect you grind your teeth, see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will examine your teeth and may take x-rays to gauge the severity of the problem and the damage to teeth and bone.
This can help ........
Signs and symptoms of bruxism include:
•Audible grinding sounds while the person is asleep
•Headache, jaw joint and/or ear pain
•Aching teeth, particularly upon waking
•Aching and/or stiffness of the face and temples upon waking
•Aching or stiffness in the jaws while chewing, particularly during breakfast
•Clenching the jaw when angry, anxious or concentrating
•Temperature-sensitive teeth
•Cracked or chipped tooth enamel
•Tooth indentations on the tongue
•Raised tissue on the cheek mucosa caused by cheek biting (linea alba)
•Mobile teeth.
Complications of bruxism
Teeth grinding can cause a range of dental problems, which may include:
•Cracked tooth enamel
•Excessive wear and tear on the teeth
•Broken teeth or restorations
•Strain on the joints and soft tissue of the jaw joint (temporo-mandibular joint)
•Temporo-mandibular disorder
•Tooth loss (rarely)
•Enlargement of the jaw muscles (rarely).
A range of causes
Some of the many factors believed to trigger bruxism in susceptible people include
• Emotional stress, such as anger or anxiety
• Mental concentration
• Physical effort or stress, such as illness, nutritional deficiency or dehydration
• Incorrect tooth alignment, including fillings that are too ‘high’
• Drug misuse (particularly amphetamines)
• Eruption of teeth (babies and children).
Diagnosis
If you suspect you grind your teeth, see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will examine your teeth and may take x-rays to gauge the severity of the problem and the damage to teeth and bone.
This can help ........