Are you someone who subconsciously clenches or grinds their teeth? When stressed, anxious, tensed, or even concentrating hard, people may find themselves clenching consciously or subconsciously. During sleep, grinding is related to hyperactivity and can also be a side effect of any medication. According to the research, awake bruxism affects more women than men, while sleep bruxism is not gender specific. Research suggests sleep bruxism is more prevalent and a disorder with repetitive jaw muscle contraction. Often it can be associated with tooth-grinding noises. You need to understand that mild bruxism may not require any treatment, but you will notice people who clench or grind their teeth during their sleep are more likely to have other disorders, such as snoring. Someone with bruxism may likely have headaches, damaged teeth, and other problems. If you experience it in sleep, you may only be aware once you start seeing issues.
Symptoms of Bruxism
If you have bruxism, your teeth clenching or grinding can be loud enough for the other person to hear. Some of the symptoms can be
- Fractured, chipped, or loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Tired or tight jaws
- Sleep problems
- Sore jaw, neck, or face pain
Causes of Bruxism
Bruxism can be due to physical, psychological, and genetic factors. As mentioned, bruxism is of two types awake and sleep. In the former, emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, and frustration clearly trigger it.
Risk Factors
- Stress – Someone who is angry or frustrated or reeling under stress can most likely be the one to clench or grind their teeth.
- Personality Type – It is also said that a competitive or aggressive personality can likely increase the risk of bruxism.
- Age – Babies are likely to grind their teeth as they begin teething. Even hyperactive kids may develop bruxism.
- Medications – Some medications have side effects that can increase the risk of bruxism. Drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, or other recreational drugs may increase the risk of bruxism.
- Family members – If you have sleep bruxism, other family members may also have it.
It is common for anyone to develop if they find themselves clenching the whole day. Learn more about what can be done to treat the disorder. Foothill Dental Care can guide you in the right direction.