Sleep Disorder: Sleep Teeth Grinding (Symptoms and Causes)

The medical term for teeth grinding during sleeping hours is sleep ?bruxism.? It is a condition that affects both kids and adults. During sleep, kids and adults who have bruxism grind or gnash their teeth. This usually occurs in the early part of sleep time. Some people with bruxism unconsciously clench and grind their teeth during the day when they feel anxious or tense.

Most cases of bruxism are mild and may never require treatment. A lot of people have some form of bruxism. In cases where it does become very frequent and violent it can lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. The bad news is most people who have sleep bruxism are usually not aware of the condition, so they are not diagnosed until some kind of complication occurs. It is important to know the symptoms and causes before those complications occur.

Symptoms of sleep bruxism include:

? Earache- because of violent jaw muscles contractions

? Teeth grinding or clenching which is loud enough to awaken your sleep partner

? Increased tooth sensitivity

? Teeth that are worn down, flattened or chipped

? Dull morning headache

? Chewed tissue on the inside of your cheek

? Chronic facial pain

? Jaw pain or tightness in you jaw muscles

? Worn tooth enamel, exposing the inside of your tooth

Causes of sleep bruxism include:

? Anxiety, stress or tension

? Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type

? Suppressed anger or frustration

? Dental problems

? Complications of Huntington?s disease or Parkinson?s disease

? An uncommon side effect of some psychiatric mediations including antidepressants

In children sleep bruxism may be related to growth and development. If a child?s top and bottom teeth do not fit together comfortably, some researchers think this can cause sleep bruxism. Other researchers believe children grind their teeth because of tension, anger, allergy problems, or as a response to pain from an earache or teething. The age for children is around 5 or 6. Sleep bruxism is common in children with cerebral palsy or severe mental retardation. Researchers say most children outgrow sleep brusixm before they get their adult teeth.

Source: Mayo Clinic (2005)

Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Always consult with your health care provider about any kind of a health problem and especially before beginning any kind of an exercise routine.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. Article written 2-2007.

Author: Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Representative. Visit us at http://nutritionandhealthhub.com and sign up for our weekly nutrition and health tips. The article collection is available as FREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. Visit http://www.healthylife27.com to purchase an array of superior quality, safe and effective products inspired by nature, informed by science and created to improve the health of people, pets and the planet.