Bruxism

Bruxism is condition where you grind or clench your teeth during sleep. It affects around one in 12 people. It is often linked to stress or anxiety and is more common in people with sleep paralysis, sleep apnoea, smokers and heavy drinkers.

It usually happens during lighter stages of sleep and while occasional teeth grinding is not normally harmful, if it happens often it can damage teeth.

Symptoms of Bruxism

• Grinding or clenching teeth especially at night
• Disturbed sleep from the noise (yours or your partner's)
• Headaches, especially in the morning
• Jaw pain or stiffness
• Worn down, chipped or broken teeth

Some people are not aware they have bruxism until a dentist spots the signs.

Treatment of Bruxism

There is no specific for cure for bruxism, but you can manage the disorder to protect your teeth.

Common treatments include:

• Stress management techniques
• Improving sleep habits 
• Controlled abdominal breathing 
• Lifestyle changes ie. cutting back on alcohol, caffeine and smoking and taking more exercise

Talk to your dentist if you think you are experiencing bruxism. In some cases a dentist may recommend the use of a splint or mouth guard to help protect the teeth.