Do I grind my teeth at night?

Here are 6 ways to find out whether you grind your teeth at night

Night grinding or Bruxism is quite common. Unfortunately, many do not realize that they grind their teeth at night. The reason is that it happens at a sub-conscious level and usually does not come under consciousness until it is too late.

We all know that unnecessary grinding of teeth leads to loss of enamel on the teeth and can make one suffer from numerous problems like teeth sensitivity, poor chewing efficiency to even headaches.

It’s also essential to know that enamel once lost cannot be regained.

But how can one know whether he/she is grinding their teeth?

Here are 6 ways to find it.

1. Ask the person sleeping next to you.

They may complain of a screeching or grinding sound while you are sleeping. If, they have not noticed so far, ask them to pay attention and check.

2. Early morning headaches

Night grinding is usually accompanied with early morning headaches and tightness around the temple region.

3. Poor sleep

Your sleep may be disturbed with multiple awakenings and inability to go back to sleep.

4. Drowsy days

Even after sleeping adequate hours, you may not feel fresh after you wake up.

5. Pain around the ears:

This is also common, as the jaw joint will be overloaded from repeated grinding.

6. Chipping of teeth/ Flat teeth:

Your teeth may chip occasionally while chewing or you may have worn out flat teeth.

Night grinding is by and large a neglected condition. Most of the patients report only after they have lost most of their enamel and some permanent damage to the jaw joint. Hence, it is essential to identify it early and seek professional help.

It is a persistent condition and your dentist can help you to break the habit. Many treatment modalities are available to bring relief, but the key is to identify the condition early.

So ask your sleeping partner and assess yourself.