Teeth grinding or the strong clenching of the teeth, also known as bruxism, is relatively common in society. The cause is usually excessive stress. Most people grind and/or clench their teeth at night, which is why this problem is often not recognised by patients or is recognised too late. A common symptom is tense chewing muscles, especially in the morning.
During dental check-ups, we therefore pay very close attention to any wear on the teeth, so-called grinding facets, which are caused by bruxism.
If you suffer from bruxism, you should definitely have a grinding splint made to protect your teeth when you grind them. If no grinding splint is made to protect the teeth, the hard tooth substance wears away continuously and the teeth become shorter and shorter, which leads to both functional and aesthetic losses. Stress management can help to reduce or eliminate bruxism.
Bruxism can lead to temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, so-called myoarthropathies. Typical symptoms include pain in the maxillofacial area and headaches. Restricted jaw opening and jaw clicking are also frequently observed. More rarely, myoarthropathies can also lead to tinnitus.
