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Teeth That Grind in the Night

 You’re supposed to be sound asleep…so why are you clenching and crunching your teeth together? If you gnash and gnaw in your slumber, you have what’s called sleep bruxism.1

Grinding your teeth and clenching your jaws at night can wear down your teeth,1 causing serious damage, such as tooth fractures.2 Sleep bruxism also can harm the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in your jaw.3

Not sure if you’re giving your teeth a rest or not? You may be grinding your teeth at night if you have:

  • Headaches1

  • Unexplained facial pain3

  • A sore jaw1

  • Neck aches4

  • Earaches1

If you’re concerned about your teeth grinding, talk with your dentist. A nighttime mouth guard may help you prevent tooth damage and pain. Other advice to chew on: Stress may worsen teeth grinding, so try not to let it sink its jaws into you.2

1 “Medical Encyclopedia: Bruxism.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, April 24, 2008. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001413.htm Accessed 2008.

2 “Teeth Grinding (Bruxism).” American Dental Association. http://ada.org/public/topics/grinding.asp Accessed 2008.

3 “Medical Encyclopedia: TMJ Disorders.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, January 24, 2008. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001227.htm Accessed 2008.

4 “TMD/TMJ (Temporomandibular Disorders).” American Dental Association. http://ada.org/topics/tmd_tmj.asp Accessed 2008.

Author: Ramos, Laura
Date Last Reviewed: 10/6/2008
Date Last Modified: 10/6/2008
The views represented by this article are that of the author and not of Delta Dental. This article is provided for information only. Please consult with a licensed dentist to discuss the best way for you to improve or maintain your oral health.

In all cases, specific group contract provisions, benefits, limitations and exclusions take precedence over oral health recommendations given here. We recommend that you contact your dental benefits carrier to determine the specific limitations and exclusions for your group.