Facts About Bruxism You Shouldn’t Brush Off

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Bruxism is a condition wherein a person grinds their teeth and clenches their jaw, usually without their awareness. This condition affects an increasing number of people. Bruxism can result in myofascial muscle pain, a sore jaw, and headaches. 

There are several factors that cause bruxism. To know more about the said condition, here are some facts we at Sunny Dental of Wilton Manors have prepared:

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Stress and anxiety can cause bruxism

Studies have shown that people passively deal with stress by grinding their teeth. According to some findings, about 70 percent of bruxism cases are related to stress.

Bruxism has two forms

The first type of bruxism is when people grind their teeth together, which causes damage when habitually done. The second type of bruxism is jaw clenching. This one tends to be more common during the day when people feel frustrated, anxious, angry, and stressed. 

Most people are not aware that they have bruxism

Since teeth grinding can happen at night, people would wake up to a headache and a sore jaw. They go on with their day without knowing that they ground their teeth while they slept. 

Bruxism damages the teeth

Teeth grinding causes the enamel, the protective outer layer of the teeth, to wear down. As a result, the soft inner layers of the teeth ground much faster.

Lifestyle choices contribute to bruxism

Excessive consumption of caffeine, smoking, alcohol drinking, and the use of recreational drugs trigger bruxism. 

Sleep disorders and bruxism are highly correlated

Snoring, sleep talking, and sleep apnea all contribute to teeth grinding. Once these things happen, the person will no longer be in a deep sleep, further increasing their risk of bruxism.

A large number of children grind their teeth

The appearance of milk teeth will cause children to grind their teeth for a certain period of time. These teeth grinding habits may disappear and return when the permanent teeth have settled in.

For people suffering from bruxism, there is a solution to end this nightly struggle and provide a good night’s sleep—by using night guards! Night guards exist to treat this condition and are worn while a person sleeps. The oral appliance prevents the teeth from grinding against each other by serving as a barrier and a cushion to the jaw muscles.


Get added protection to your teeth. Book your appointment with Sunny Dental of Wilton Manors and avail of our Night Guards in Wilton Manors, FL. We are located at 2517 NE 9th Ave., Wilton Manors, FL 33305.