What causes teeth grinding overnight?

I wake up from my sleep at night because I grind my teeth - what causes it and how can I prevent it?

What causes teeth grinding overnight?
I do it as well and I went to the dentist and ended up paying $450 for a mouth guard that I could%26#039;ve bought at a sports store for $15. Save your money and buy one of the mouth guards that you can conform to your own mouth. It really works and I can definitely feel the difference in the morning when I would wear my mouth guard vs when I wouldn%26#039;t.
Reply:i see that ppl are telling this girl to talk to her Dr. about anxiety. please, don%26#039;t let any Dr. put you on Benzos for teeth grinding or any other reason. research natural remedies. THEY WORK AND ARE NOT ADDICTIVE!!!!! Report It

Reply:Stress has SO much to do with grinding of teeth. They sell things at the store, like a big mouthguard, and that is very helpful. They can be a bit expensive, but are very worth it.
Reply:stress and anxiety. Are you worrying too much? Stop worrying, and that will stop it. I know-- easier said than done! But I really do think that it is largely to do with stress, and to stop it, you need to relax a bit more.
Reply:What is teeth grinding?





Bruxism (teeth grinding) is a condition involving grinding or clenching of the teeth, often during sleep. Bruxism can be mild and occasional or can be so frequent or violent that the teeth are damaged.





What is the cause?





No one knows for certain why some children grind their teeth. Some think that it is because the child%26#039;s top and bottom teeth do not fit together comfortably. This discomfort causes the child to grind his teeth to make the teeth feel better and later turns into a bad habit. Others believe that children grind their teeth because they feel tense, fearful, or angry. Still others suggest that children could have an allergy or a nutritional problem.





The cause in some cases is abnormal dental occlusion (the way the upper and lower teeth fit together when the person shuts the mouth). More often, the disorder is associated with anxiety, tension, and suppressed anger. Bruxism is usually worse after intake of alcohol.





What are the symptoms?


teeth grinding, severe or very loud, that occurs during sleep


jaw clenching





jaw pain or earache (referred pain caused by violent jaw muscle contractions)





abnormal alignment of teeth





anxiety, stress, and tension





personality, suppressing anger





How common is tooth grinding?





Dental examinations of children show that 1 in 6 children have done some tooth grinding. Also, some parents report the behaviour even though their child%26#039;s teeth appear normal at the dentist. Altogether, 1 in every 3 children grind their teeth at some time in their childhood.





When does tooth grinding usually occur?





Almost all children that grind their teeth do it only at night. The behaviour is most common in children around the ages of 5 and 6; however, it can occur at any age. Grinding the teeth during the daytime should make parents more concerned than if the child is doing it only at night.





How is the diagnosis made?





Examination will rule out other disorders that may cause similar jaw pain or ear pain, including ear disorders such as otitis media, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and dental disorders. Detailed history may reveal abnormal stress or tension.





What is the treatment?





The goal of treatment is to prevent permanent damage to the teeth and reduce pain.





A night guard or protective dental appliance may be helpful if bruxism is severe enough to cause damage to the teeth or pain to jaw muscles. Orthodontic adjustment of the occlusion or bite pattern may be beneficial for some people.





Psychotherapy or counselling may help the afflicted person to express anger and deal with anxiety or stress. Relaxation or stress management techniques can be beneficial in reducing anxiety or stress. Avoidance of alcohol may be advised for some people.





Will the child%26#039;s teeth be harmed?





Usually the wear to teeth from grinding does not harm the teeth. The baby teeth (also called primary teeth) can show a lot of wear to their surfaces without causing pain or other problems. If the teeth get very worn down, dental problems, such as tooth infections, can occur.





What can I do to help my child?





If you or your child%26#039;s dentist sees wear on the tooth surface, it is important to make a special visit to a paediatric dentist. Dentists can polish the teeth to make them fit together more comfortably or make special devices for the mouth that are usually worn at night to keep your child from wearing away the teeth.





It is a good idea to help a child talk about what has caused tension, fear, or anger before going to bed. Do this in the course of the bedtime routine. For example, when your child is telling you about his day, ask some questions about how those events made him feel. While this may or may not help the child with tooth grinding, it does let him know that you care about how he feels. It is probably best not to draw attention to the tooth grinding itself.





Most children will stop tooth grinding on their own without the need for special treatments. Mention tooth grinding to your child%26#039;s dentist at your child%26#039;s next regular appointment.





How to prevent it?





Stress reduction and anxiety management may reduce bruxism in persons prone to the condition.





What is the prognosis?





Bruxism is not a dangerous disorder. However, it can cause permanent damage to the teeth and uncomfortable jaw pain or ear pain.





Hope the information is useful to u.
Reply:stress and bad dreams. For the stress try to relax. Ask for doctor advise if you think you are too anxious and stressful.
Reply:Yes, it is definitely to do with anxiety/stress/tension and even possibly agression or anger. I would recommend dealing with the cause of the problem (which could be a minor upset in your life that you haven%26#039;t even recognised or something more obvious such as people at work etc). If you know of some things in your life that may be causing you distress in some way then i would recommend addressing them as best you can. Whether the cause be something you are very aware of or not i would also really recommend doing some basic mediation (sitting or lying comfortably and mentally relaxing all your muscles and focusing on quieting your mind with your eyes closed, or possibly focusing at a spot on the wall/ceiling or a candle and consciously thinking of nothing other than what you are looking at) - But don%26#039;t force yourself too hard by really staring and not blinking or you may build up tension. There are many other methods but i would keep them basic because it sounds very much like you need to subconsciously relax and maybe treat yourself to something you don%26#039;t usually do. I hope that helps.
Reply:my partner dose it and hes been doing it as a kid, buy a mouth gaurd
Reply:Stress can cause you to grind your teeth. Get a night guard from your dentist. It%26#039;s worth the money. When you grind your teeth heavily, you can mess up the vertical dimension of your mouth. Vertical dimension is the measurement of the superior-inferior relationship between the maxilla and the mandible when the teeth are situated in maximum intercuspation (biting down). Imagine someone with complete dentures smiling and biting down. Now, imagine the same person without the denture (ie w/o any teeth in their mouth) and biting all the way down. When a person%26#039;s vertical dimension changes, it can affect how old you look.
Reply:It%26#039;s a wonder my old man has any teeth left. He%26#039;s soooo loud %26amp; does it allllllll night. I can hear him from the otherside of the house %26amp; my old lady snores away next to him %26amp; puts up with it! Now I know what to buy him for Xmas, one of those guards suggested here, thanks guys!!! Now to stop the old ladys snoring? Hmmm?



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