We all get stressed out once in a while. And when we do, our mental stress can actually create physical symptoms. For example, when some people feel anxious and tense, they grind or clench their teeth. It can happen during the day or at night -- and you might not even know it. But either way, it's a very real problem that doctors and dentists call bruxism.

Bruxism teeth grinding and clenching may be mild enough to be completely unnoticeable. However, it can be severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other dental problems.

The most common form of bruxism teeth grinding is sleep bruxism. Because you can grind your teeth at night and not even know it until complications develop, it's important to learn the warning signs and to seek routine dental care. Bruxism treatment may be as simple as practicing self-help steps to reduce stress or may require you to wear a bruxism guard when you sleep.During the day many people clench their teeth. An example of this would be a mechanic tightening a nut on a bolt. He closes his teeth and clenches.

Warning Signs of Bruxism Teeth Grinding

Grinding and clenching your teeth puts pressure on the mouth's muscles and tissues, as well as the jaw. If you wake up with a sensitive jaw or if it hurts to eat, you might suffer from sleep bruxism. Here are some warning signs to watch out for:

- Grinding that is loud enough to awaken your sleeping partner
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Sore, painful jaw
- Headache
- Earache
- Chronic facial pain
- Teeth that are worn down, flattened or chipped

If you routinely experience one or more of these problems, talk to our knowledgeable staff or come in for an exam.

The Bruxism Treatment Grind

There are a few different dental approaches to bruxism treatment. The first is a bruxism mouth guard. These are available over the counter or your dentist can make a custom bruxism guard called a night guard specially designed to fit your mouth. An over-the-counter bruxism mouth guard might be less expensive than a custom fitted bruxism guard, but tends not to fit as well.

Another dental appliance used for bruxism treatment is called a splint. This type of bruxism guard is a custom-made piece of hard plastic that fits over your top or bottom teeth. Several types of splints are available.  This bruxism guard fits over just the front teeth to prevent clenching of the back molars.

In severe cases, when tooth wear has become so extreme that it's hard for you to chew, a dentist may need to perform several corrective procedures. In these cases, bruxism treatment may involve dental onlays or a dental crown to repair one or more affected teeth.