Causes

It’s hard to say exactly why you’re grinding your teeth, but one thing we do know for sure is that it’s linked with other symptoms such as anxiety, sleeping disorders, or stress.

• Stress and anxiety – This is one of the most common reasons for teeth grinding and often occurs during the night when you’re asleep.
• Medication – Certain types of medication can also cause a person to clench or grind their teeth. This includes certain drugs prescribed for ADHD and depression.
• Misaligned teeth – If your bite is uneven and your teeth don’t meet together properly, then this could also lead to teeth grinding.
• Sleep disorders – If you have a tendency to snore, or indeed suffer from a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, (where restricted airways often cause you to stop breathing intermittently while you’re asleep) then this too could be the reason why you grind your teeth.

But that’s not all… lifestyle choices can also cause bruxism. These include:

• Smoking
• Consuming alcohol
• Drinking excessive amounts of caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee (over 6 cups a day)

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons for people to grind their teeth. Once we’ve discovered why you’re grinding your teeth, we can recommend the best bruxism treatment for you.

Treating Bruxism

If you think you’re grinding your teeth then it’s important to book an appointment with one of our experienced dentists in Cranbourne. A speedy diagnosis is a key to preventing serious damage.

Bruxism treatment is determined by what’s been causing you to grind your teeth and the extent of damage that may have occurred. If for instance, your bruxism is stress related then we may recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help you manage your situation better.

Often, simple techniques such as taking more exercise, learning muscle relaxation exercises, and changing your sleeping habits can also put a stop to teeth grinding.