Tooth grinding

Teeth grinding is a relatively common problem. It’s estimated that around 5 percent of the adult population suffers from this condition at any one time. Most people grind their teeth at night while sleeping and are therefore unaware of the problem. Others may grind their teeth during the day, for example when they are concentrating.

Signs of teeth grinding:

If you have been suffering from teeth grinding for a long time, you will be able to see this in your teeth. These become worn and have straight edges. You can also wear through the outermost layer of the tooth (the enamel) so that the dentin becomes visible. This can cause the teeth to become more sensitive and fragile in everyday life.

Tooth grinding/pressing can also cause wear on fillings and contribute to the development of cracks
in the teeth. Furthermore, it can be common for people who grind their teeth at night to wake up with sore jaw muscles. This can easily spread to the neck, shoulders and temples, contributing to the development of tension headaches.

Finally, teeth grinding can interfere with sleep for both you and your partner. This is because the sound of teeth grinding can be very loud for some people.


Treatment of teeth grinding:

Teeth grinding often occurs during periods of mental stress. For example, busy exam periods or a difficult work or family situation. It can therefore be beneficial to perform relaxation exercises before falling asleep (autogenic training). If your body and muscles are relaxed when you fall asleep, there is less risk of teeth grinding during the night. If this is not sufficient and you fear major damage to your teeth, it is possible to have an occlusal splint made by your dentist. This is usually made of hard plastic and acts as a mouthguard. In this way, teeth grinding will affect the mouthguard instead of the teeth. Many people will also find that their jaw muscles relax more if they wear a mouthguard. As a result, symptoms such as tension in the neck and shoulders, as well as headaches, can be reduced. With prolonged and severe teeth grinding, the teeth can eventually become very worn. This can affect both the function and appearance of the teeth. In such cases, it may be necessary to rebuild the teeth using either plastic fillings or porcelain crowns (fig. V-VIII). This can be a costly and extensive treatment and may in some cases trigger support from Helfo. It is the dentist who assesses whether the condition is serious enough to be covered by these regulations.

Tooth grinding in children:

It’s not uncommon for children to grind their teeth at night. Although it sounds bad, it’s usually completely harmless. It’s not common to treat children who are bothered by teeth grinding, and for most, the grinding will stop when the milk teeth are eventually replaced with permanent teeth.

 

Søk på krifa.no