Two Ways to Know if You Have Bruxism

As we are going through hard economic times, stress levels are going through the roof and the number of teeth grinding cases is on the rise very rapidly. The American Dental Association (ADA) states that up to 50% of the American population has experienced some form of bruxism or teeth grinding condition at some point in their lives.

This figure however could be a gross underestimate as it is difficult to quantify (not to mention study) a condition that occurs mostly when one is asleep and unconscious of their actions. The very few statistical information and studies carried out in other countries over the past years indicate that bruxism is experienced at a similar percentage by people worldwide.

So how do you know if your night time rest period is wrought with teeth grinding activity? Here are 2 ways you can go about it without having to pay exorbitant consultation fees to a doctor or dentist to figure it out for you:

1. Find a Willing Bed Partner - Someone who can help monitor your sleep activities that is. The most logical way to know if you grind your teeth while sleeping is to ask someone if you do. If your significant other, family members or roommates sleep in close proximity with you, chances are your teeth grinding activities have been noticed before. Teeth grinding can produce a lot of sound and if you're wondering what it sounds like, try imagining a really annoying squeaky chair. Unlike snoring though, people for some reason seem to complain less. Ask those who sleep close with you or simply get someone to spend a few nights awake to watch your sleeping habits. If that is difficult, find a light sleeper who will surely awake to the sounds of you grinding your teeth.
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2. Go Through This Symptom List - Bruxism is often only noticed when you start waking up to abnormal symptoms. Common symptoms include morning headaches, sore jaw, a clicking in the jaw when opening your mouth too wide, sore teeth, earaches and constant inner cheek tissue damage. If you have been teeth grinding for a very long time, more drastic signs can be noticed immediately by checking your teeth in the mirror. If your teeth seem flat, worn down, or slightly chipped at the edges, chances are you have bruxism.

It should be useful for you to know that teeth grinding can start at an early age as well as anytime during your adult age. The exact reason that children grind their teeth while sleeping is still not known but a commonly accepted fact is because of an irregular bite where their baby teeth have not grown normally in terms of shape or size.

Adults on the other hand (assuming they haven't been a bruxer since childhood) experience teeth grinding MOSTLY when they are going through a stressful period. Although there are other factors that could cause teeth grinding, stress is the number 1 factor. Get stuck in the stress period for too long and teeth grinding becomes a lifelong habit. As popular research proves, it only takes 21 days of a repeated activity to create a new habit.

Once you have created a habit of teeth grinding and bruxism becomes a nightly occurrence for extended periods of time, serious health problems can start to show in the form of for example Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) where your whole body could be affected.

Therefore, it is crucial to find out if you have bruxism as soon as possible so you can take the necessary steps to overcome it before things get worse.