Known medically as ‘bruxism’, teeth grinding may seem harmless but can cause serious long term damage to your dental health. Caused by many different factors, it is often difficult to figure out exactly why some people grind their teeth on a regular basis. Although we all grind our teeth at times (it’s part of chewing to an extent) when we do it constant and regularly there can be significant problems.

Teeth grinding will often occur at distinct times for different people: either awake or asleep. You may not be aware you are doing it while you sleep, though your partner may be able to hear the grinding if it is particularly bad. It is difficult to pin point where the subconscious instinct to grind your teeth comes from but it is often linked with stress levels. If it becomes severe your dentist may recommend using a mouth guard at night which will protect your teeth from the constant grind.

When awake it can become habitual instinct to grind your teeth with stress, anxiety or concentration. Mouth guards are obviously much less convenient when awake and so the best method is self-control and trying to becoming consciously aware of when you are doing it.

Your Central Leeds dentist will be able to offer some solutions for teeth grinding. Due to it be a mainly psychological instinct a lot of treatments involve conditioning yourself to stop or training yourself to become aware. Seek help for the problem before your teeth begin to wear away and you will save yourself a lot of dental work that could be avoided.