Do You grind your teeth?
Most people probably grind and clench their teeth from time to time. Occasional teeth grinding,
called bruxism, does not usually cause harm, but when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged.
Teeth grinding is usually caused by stress and anxiety, it often occurs during sleep ,and is more likely caused by an abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth. It can also be caused by a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea.
In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth. The chronic grinding may wear teeth down to stumps. Not only can severe grinding damage teeth and result in tooth loss, it can also affect your jaws, cause or worsen TMD/TMJ, and even change the appearance of your face.
If you suspect you may be grinding your teeth, talk to your dentist. He or she can examine your mouth and jaw for signs of bruxism. If you are they can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding during sleep.