Bruxism: What Patients Need to Know

Do you wake up with jaw pain, earaches, headaches, or neck and shoulder discomfort? Have you broken a tooth while eating soft food? Do you experience intermittent tooth sensitivity? These are common symptoms of bruxism, or tooth grinding.

Understanding Bruxism

Bruxism affects 80-90% of adults, occurring in both men and women at varying degrees and frequencies. It often happens unconsciously during sleep, particularly during transitions between sleep cycles. Despite this, only 10% of adults are aware they grind their teeth.

Causes of Bruxism

There are three primary theories explaining why bruxism occurs:

Stress and Anxiety: High-stress levels are strongly linked to increased teeth grinding.
Alcohol and Medications: Some substances may contribute to bruxism.
Jaw Misalignment: The body may attempt to correct an imbalance between the teeth and jaw joint.

How to Manage Bruxism

Since stress is the most significant factor, completely stopping bruxism is challenging. However, damage can be minimized by using a properly fitted nightguard. A well-designed nightguard should:

Fit precisely to your teeth
Have a flat, hard surface allowing the jaw to move freely
Ensure proper jaw joint alignment when biting
Distribute pressure evenly across all teeth

What Happens If You Don't Wear a Nightguard?

Bruxism can be compared to driving a car with misaligned tires—uneven wear can cause damage over time. Misalignment can lead to excessive pressure on certain teeth, increased jaw discomfort, and frequent headaches.

Should Everyone Wear a Nightguard?