Why may sleep bruxism be harder to treat than daytime bruxism?

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, during sleep can be tougher to diagnose and treat because you may not be aware you are doing this. There are some symptoms you can look for, however.

The symptoms of teeth grinding include:

• dull headaches
• jaw soreness
• teeth that are painful or loose
• fractured teeth

If you experience any of these, you should see your dentist who can help determine this problem and the cause in order to provide treatment. A mouthguard is one option that can be worn while sleeping.

Sleep bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding, may be harder to treat than daytime bruxism because you may be totally unaware that you're clenching your teeth. Unless someone watches you sleep, you might not know you are grinding or clenching your teeth.

By the time your dentist observes physical signs of wear and tear on your teeth, worn enamel, or rough inside cheeks, the problem may have become severe. During sleep bruxism, your upper and lower teeth collide with about 250 pounds of force. This pounding can occur for up to 40 minutes per hour, as compared to 20 minutes per hour during normal daily activities.

Sleep bruxism is the term for teeth grinding that occurs at night as you sleep. It can be harder to treat because it is an unconscious action. For many sufferers, stress is the cause of their sleep bruxism. Controlling stress by learning relaxation techniques and behavior modification can help. Doing relaxing activities before bed, such as a warm bath or listening to music, may help ease stress and tension.