What is bruxism?

Bruxism refers to an oral parafunctional (movements of the jaw that are outside normal function) activity that occurs in most humans at some point in their lives.   Grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw are the two main characteristics of this condition, which can occur during the day or at night. 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. When these events happen, bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures, and even complete dentures may be needed. The causes of bruxism usually include:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Frustration
• Misaligned teeth
• Irritation in the mouth
• Allergies

What are the symptoms of bruxism?

The consequences of bruxing often impairs the quality of life, and over the long term, chronic bruxing can result in a variety of damage. There are, however, common symptoms that point toward the behavior, such as:

• Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner
• Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
• Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
• Increased tooth pain or sensitivity
• Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won’t open or close completely
• Jaw, neck or face pain or soreness
• Pain that feels like an earache, though it’s actually not a problem with your ear
• Dull headache starting in the temples
• Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
• Sleep disruption

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or are worried that you may be suffering from bruxism, Dr. Richard M. M. Lee and his staff are trained to spot any evidence during any regular check-ups and visits to Sharyland Family Dentistry. If you’d like to schedule an appointment please call us at (956) 580-1900 or go to our appointments page and schedule an appointment using the online booking tool.