Teeth Grinding and Clenching - Are you aware?

Have you ever noticed the size of your teeth? Do they perfectly form a symmetrical fit on one another? If they don't then question how often do you sense a mild headache or sore jaw when you wake up in the morning? If you regularly face these problems then there are possibilities that you grind the teeth, more than normally. Teeth grinding is a phenomena where a person slides his/her upper jaw and lower jaw teeth over one another. On the other hand, clenching is when closes upper and lower jaw teeth tightly. Tooth grinding, medically termed as bruxism, is a common phenomena in human beings. However, severe bruxism is capable of causing mild and serious dental, psychosocial and jaw bone joint disorders. Such disorders ring the bell about tooth grinding at a dental clinic.


People grind tooth when they are awake as well as when they are asleep. There are several factors that cause tooth grinding and clenching which happen when a person is awake as well as when he/she is asleep. Anxiety, stress and emotional instability results in bruxism in some individuals. When asleep, bruxism is caused by the way how central nervous system functions. One interesting factor is that stress caused when a person is awake may also result in bruxism when he/she is asleep. Since bruxism is not a disorder by itself, dentists look for ways for prevention as treatment of affected tooth, through various processes. Depending on the cause for bruxism, there are different methods adopted by dentists. Dental guards are popular tools which prevent tooth grinding during sleep. Apart from this, dentists also suggest physiosocial treatments for tooth grinding and clenching that happen when patient is awake. With increase in awareness about bruxism in people, dental problems as well as other associated problems can be avoided. An informed individual forms part of a healthy society.

How to prevent Teeth Grinding and Clenching :

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