Do you grind your teeth?
Someone in my family does and it’s downright irritating. Do you know that if you grind your teeth severely, you can fracture dental fillings or cause other types of tooth damage? Severe bruxism has also been blamed for some cases of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, mysterious morning headaches, and unexplained facial pain.
Bruxism can also have a variety of psycological and physical causes. These include stress, the body’s reaction to poor tooth alignment, as a complication of severe brain injury, or as an uncommon side effect of some antidepressant medications.
According to the Columbia School of Dental and Oral Surgery , if you grind your teeth due to stress, you may be able to prevent the problem by seeking professional counseling or by using strategies to help you relax. Try cutting down on your daily intake of caffeine and alcohol. If you require extra help to prevent tooth damage, your doctor or dentist may recommend a device called a bite plate or bite splint, designed to prevent the choppers from rubbing together.