{"id":28092,"date":"2022-07-29T08:08:07","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T02:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/?p=28092"},"modified":"2025-11-28T08:50:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T03:20:08","slug":"what-is-bruxism-and-does-it-affect-oral-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/royalimplant.com\/blogs\/what-is-bruxism-and-does-it-affect-oral-health\/","title":{"rendered":"What is bruxism and does it affect oral health?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bruxism is a common condition that affects almost 30% of the adult population. But what is it, and how does it affect your oral health? Not many people are aware that they suffer from bruxism until they experience negative consequences from this habit. Bruxism can also be referred to as tooth grinding, clenching, or jaw grinding. It\u2019s a subconscious activity in which the individual grinds their teeth together either intentionally or unintentionally. Although it\u2019s possible for people of any age to develop this condition, it\u2019s more commonly seen among those who are stressed, anxious or have a strong reaction to certain stimuli (such as caffeine). Bruxism is also known as night grinding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What causes bruxism?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The actual cause of bruxism or night grinding is not entirely understood. It can be caused by stress, anxiety, or other external factors that are out of your control. In these cases, no long-term damage will occur to your teeth and gums. However, it can also be caused by misaligned teeth or an incorrect bite that causes excessive pressure on the teeth while they\u2019re being gnawed on by the jaw muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Bruxism is also known as night grinding.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This is more likely to happen if you\u2019ve had orthodontic treatment<\/a>. Even if you\u2019re not experiencing any discomfort, bruxism can still cause damage to your teeth and gums over time. Brushing and flossing regularly can help prevent this damage. But if you\u2019re grinding your teeth, it will be hard to keep your teeth and gums healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruxism symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Excessive tooth wear: <\/strong>If you\u2019re grinding your teeth, you\u2019ll probably notice that your teeth become stained and worn down. This might cause one or more teeth to become loose and may require their extraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sore jaw: <\/strong>Bruxism can cause pain in the jaw, which can happen without any noticeable grinding. This can be from the stress caused by clenching your teeth in anticipation of an event that\u2019s causing you anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Headaches:<\/strong> Regular headaches may be caused by tension headaches caused by bruxism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bad breath:<\/strong> The bacteria from your saliva can build up on your teeth, causing bad breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is bruxism bad for your teeth?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While bruxism itself doesn\u2019t cause any long-term damage to your teeth, it can lead to more serious problems if it\u2019s not treated. Excessive wear on your teeth can cause them to become loose and eventually fall out, especially if they\u2019ve had root canal treatment<\/a> or are already loose, to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n

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If a tooth is being worn down from the grinding, the tooth enamel will become weaker and more easily decayed. This creates an opportunity for bacteria to enter your bloodstream, possibly causing an infection. The pressure caused by grinding your teeth can also cause them to become misaligned and you may require orthodontic treatment to correct this. Bruxism can also lead to other oral health problems, such as gum disease. This can be caused by the bacteria in your saliva entering your gums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to treat bruxism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Change your habits:<\/strong> If you grind your teeth while you\u2019re awake, the best thing you can do is to make an effort to do something else with your hands or a different activity to take your mind off the stress. This can range from knitting, pen clicking, or playing with a fidget spinner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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