It’s called Bruxism and usually occurs in the sleep, says a City of Leeds dentist. Bruxism also covers the subconscious acts of gnashing and grinding of the teeth while we are awake. The effects are a premature wearing of the tooth enamel and headaches, which just increases the Bruxism and brings the patient into a circle of behaviour that just makes the condition worse. A mouth guard is usually what is prescribed and this seems to work well in most patients, the patient can just pop the guard in when the condition starts up or just before bed-time. The condition has been with us since time immemorial and the word comes from the Greek for grinding, it is generally seen by clinicians as a habit more than an abnormal condition. The cure is varied, the gum shields are a short measure to protect the teeth, rather than fix the problem. Hypnosis is one way and this seems to work well in a lot of people. The effects are that you will get a premature wearing of the teeth and soreness, this can also lead to you relaxing your oral hygiene program and not brushing as regularly as you should do. Jaw ache and anxiety are both a sign of it and a result of it, so getting help early in life is essential. It usually occurs in children around the age of 5 and can go on well into adult life, dietary problems are also thought to be linked to Bruxism, and so a change in diet is also worth a go. All in all this condition needs to be tackled early, although we don`t always know we have it, if you suffer any of the aforementioned conditions then seek advice from your dentist of doctor.
Tags: bruxism, headaches, teeth grinding, tooth enamel
