Reasons Behind Teeth Grinding At Night: Aspects To Know About

By Elite Dental Group

Grinding the teeth or clenching them occasionally can prove to be normal and typically won’t cause damage. However, when a person does this on a regular basis, it can harm their teeth and cause oral health issues. This dental condition often take place during sleep. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is when a person moves their teeth back and forth during sleep. Teeth grinding can lead to many problems, we will mention the causes and symptoms of it. If you suspect this is happening, you need to find out the reason why. 

Reasons Behind Teeth Grinding at Night

There are different reasons why a person might be grinding their teeth. Some of which may be medical conditions, Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease can lead to bruxism. Even some antidepressants can do the same. Another common cause is someone who is suffering from anxiety or stress. When a person is stressed, he or she is more likely to clench their jaw and move it throughout the night, resulting in the wearing down of teeth. You should try your best to lower your stress and anxiety. There are lifestyle modifications that not only helps with teeth grinding, but with living a healthier and more peaceful life. 

One of the common reasons behind teeth grinding can be problems with the tooth itself. So many people have teeth that aren't properly aligned and are crooked. Occlusion is the name for this type of misalignment and states that the teeth don’t assemble properly when the jaw opens and closes. This can be due to an issue with the muscles around the jaw or the temporomandibular joint. If such facial muscles shudder at the time of sleep, the person is more likely to grind their teeth. Diagnostic tools like X-rays can be taken to provide more details of the issue causing the bruxism. 

Another factor that can increase the risk of bruxism is age. This condition is most common in young children, but generally goes away by adulthood. Certain conditions like bruxism tend to be hereditary. If someone has this condition, chances are a family member has it too. Lastly, another reason someone may experience teeth grinding is their personality. Individuals who are more aggressive and hyperactive are more likely to exhibit this behavior. 

Symptoms of Bruxism

There are many symptoms of teeth grinding, which include fractured, flattened, chipped, or loose teeth. Other symptoms include jaw, face, or neck pain. The individual may also have a tight jaw or tired jaw muscles. With this condition, the jaw can become locked with difficulty opening and closing it. A person can also feel increased tooth sensitivity or pain and sleep disruption. A less common symptom is an earache, however, this does not relate to the ear. 

How to Stop Grinding Teeth

If you are looking to stop grinding your teeth, you can apply these remedies. A useful remedy is using a mouthguard, this method is effective to use while sleeping for someone with bruxism. They can cushion the teeth and safeguard them from grinding against each other. Mouthguards can be custom made in a dentist’s office.

Exercising can relieve stress which therefore should relieve your bruxism. Before bedtime, try to relax as anxiety is yet another cause of it. Alcohol and caffeine may worsen your teeth grinding, as well as biting or chewing on pencils or pens. This causes the jaw muscles to become used to clenching, which could cause teeth grinding. When you realize you’re grinding your teeth, skip gum, popcorn, steak, and other chewy foods. This may worsen the condition. 

There is a dental method known as reductive coronoplasty that can reshape or level the biting surface of the teeth. This procedure might resolve teeth grinding if it is due to crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth.

Other Things to Know About Teeth Grinding

Some people ask how to identify if they grind their teeth. Well, this condition mainly takes place at the time of sleep, leading most people who suffer from it to be unaware. We told you about the symptoms in the above section. Other people learn about this behavior from their loved ones who hear them doing this at night. 

Don’t take this dental condition lightly as it can result in the loosening, fracturing, or the loss of teeth. Oral health issues can lead to other problems in the body as well. That is why you should solve this issue as soon as possible. If the condition is becoming out of control, don’t wait, consult with your dentist to find out your options. 

It has been said that vitamin deficiencies like calcium or magnesium can be linked to teeth grinding. Taking care of your body and maintaining a well-balanced and nutritious diet can ward off this dental condition in addition to many others. If kids are facing problems like bruxism, the cause may be psychological or physical. Encouraging your child to relax before bed or read a book may calm their nerves. Most children stop grinding their teeth after they have lost their baby teeth, but some kids keep this habit until adolescence. That is why you should speak to your children about what stresses them, this could reveal underlying medical conditions and improve their quality of life.