Causes for Bruxism Also Known as Teeth Grinding

Previously published in Examiner

Part 1 of the teeth grinding series

Sleep is an important human function which is essential for good physical health and good mental health. Even though sleep is so important many Montrealers take sleeping for granted. They either sleep too much or more often than not, sleep less than is recommended for good health. Montrealers will catnap rather than sleep, burn the midnight oil studying, play on the computer, or just insist that they are too busy too sleep.

Conditions that affect sleep, our health, and mental health include such topics as teeth grinding. Teeth grinding at night is disruptive to the sleeper and his or her partner may remain awake because of the noise as well. A Montreal dentist can help to solve the problem also the University de Montreal and the Montreal General Hospital have excellent programs for the public.

Why We Grind Our Teeth and What We Can Do to Prevent It

The medical condition called bruxism is better known as teeth grinding. Bruxism also includes, clenching, gnashing, or grating teeth. These sounds associated with bruxism can be silent or noisy.

Prevalence for bruxism '" teeth grinding

Most people including Montrealers grind their teeth from time to time so that means there are millions of people who do. It is estimated that about 50 to 95 percent of adults grind their teeth and about 15 '" 33 percent of children do as well.

Teeth grinding does not usually cause any damage except if the condition is chronic.

What causes teeth grinding or bruxism?

Most of us know that teeth grinding can happen as a result of stress or anxiety, but teething grinding often occurs at night when we are sleeping. Teeth grinding at night usually happens because of crooked teeth, missing teeth, or a bite that is abnormal in some way. However, the exact cause is still unknown to medical researchers at this time.

Sources:

http://www.medicinenet.com/teeth_grinding_bruxism/article.htm