If you have never heard of bruxism, don’t worry, you probably just know it by its more common name – teeth grinding. Bruxism, or teeth grinding/jaw clenching, is becoming more popular especially in young adults.

Why are dentists seeing an uptick in adults that suffer from teeth grinding? Let’s get some insight by breaking down exactly what bruxism is.

What is it? 

There are two different types of bruxism – one where you clench your jaw and grind your teeth while awake and one where you clench your jaw and grind your teeth while asleep. Obviously, if you are suffering from the version overnight, you may not be aware that you suffer from it!

Mild and moderate cases of bruxism usually do not cause the sufferer too many side effects, but in more severe cases people can suffer from jaw pain and disorders, headaches, and damaged teeth. 

What are the symptoms?

As with anything, symptoms can vary from person to person, but generally, those suffering from bruxism will experience some of the following:

• Audible teeth grinding (loud enough to wake you or others)
• Fractures or chips in your teeth
• Loose teeth
• Worn down tooth enamel
• Sensitive teeth
• Pain in your teeth
• Soreness in your jaw or neck
• Tight jaw
• Earache like pain (with no earache) 
• Dull headaches
• Change in quality of sleep (for the worse)

If you experience any of these symptoms to the point where it is bothersome, make sure to visit a dentist. 

What are the causes?

There is no known cause of bruxism, but there are certain risk factors that can increase the chances of having it happen to you. 

Again, not everyone with these risk factors will have bruxism, but it is something to keep in mind.

• Increased anxiety or stress
• Anger or frustration
• Age – children commonly get it
• Smoking tobacco products
• Taking certain antidepressants
• Drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages
• Family history of bruxism
• Certain medical conditions like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, dementia and ADHD

What is the treatment? 

Treatment for bruxism will vary based on how severe it is and what is causing it. In certain situations, you won’t need any treatment like for children since they often grow out of it fairly quickly.

However, if you are having severe bruxism, we may recommend a splint or mouth guard. These specially made devices help keep you from further hurting your teeth when you grind them or clench your jaw.

If you’ve had a lot of damage, you may need some dental correction of your teeth to better help you chew.

A very common non-dental related treatment is actually treating your stress and anxiety at the root cause. Therapy, mediation and even medication can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, making your teeth grinding much less noticeable. 

Bruxism is not always a big deal, but if you are noticing any of the symptoms we mentioned above, it won’t hurt to schedule an appointment to get evaluated. And as always, make sure you are keeping up with your biannual visits!