Grinding my teeth at night?

I've had this problem since i was a little one apparently...but my mom never thought of it as a problem...my boyfriend told me about it recently..and I have a dentist's appointment in about a week...any idea what they'll do?

Grinding my teeth at night?
Your dentist might give you a gaurd like football players use to sleep in.
Reply:GO TO THE DENTIST AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IT HELPS sOmetimes you just need to get out, do things in life, you don't like, even if it means get surgery and things removed from your mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:They can make you a night guard so you won't damage your teeth.
Reply:they will give u a mouth guard similar to a foootball ,boxing one.
Reply:They will probably just fit you with a mouth guard to wear at night to prevent your teeth from being worn down. It is not a big deal - in fact you can buy the kits to make your own over the counter at most drug stores.
Reply:How awful...my niece does that....go see a psychologist...
Reply:Give you a gum shield. Very attractive. What's worrying you?
Reply:I had the same problem, but it could be a number of things. Cliche, but I think it was mostly stress for me because it went away. I went to the dentist and one told me I needed to remove a tooth in the back because there wasn't enough room. It had just recently started, I never had the problem that I know of as a child. So your case may be different. And also if its persistent, they will suggest the mouth guard to wear at night...But again, it went away on its own.
Reply:my sister as the same problem,the dentist made her a mouth guard to sleep in to which she cannot
Reply:i think the exorsict grinded her teeth too, so they probably bring a bible and tie you down to a chair:)
Reply:I think this indicates anxiety or stress because I get that too but only when I'm under too much pressure. They have special braces made for it to be put on before you sleep to prevent any damage to the teeth.
Reply:they will give you a gum guard to wear while you sleep
Reply:Here is a link for bruxism for you to read


http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uva...
Reply:they'll probally give u a mouthpiece, like a plastic retainer, that protects your teeth from grinding
Reply:What is bruxism? Bruxism (pronounced BRUK-sizm) is the technical term for forcible grinding and clenching of the teeth. It usually happens at night, during sleep, although some people grind their teeth during the day as well. People who suffer from bruxism may also bite their fingernails or pencils, or chew the insides of their cheeks.





How common is bruxism? About half of US adults grind their teeth at night, and about 20% (over 40 million people) grind their teeth in a destructive way. Most people who grind their teeth are over 25 years old, and the disorder affects women and men about equally. Children also grind their teeth, but usually in response to discomfort caused by colds, ear infections or allergies. Most cases of bruxism in children resolve on their own without causing tooth damage or other problems.





What causes bruxism? Bruxism can have a variety of causes, but the most common are probably emotional factors such as daytime stress, anxiety, anger, pain and frustration. Certain sleep disorders can trigger grinding of the teeth as well. People who are competitive, aggressive, and rushed may also be at greater risk for bruxism. Lastly, alcohol and some types of medications may worsen tooth grinding.





Why bruxism can be a serious problem: When you chew your food, your deliver a force of about 175 pounds per square inch (psi) to your teeth. But when you grind your teeth at night, there's no food to absorb the impact, so the force on your teeth can be 300 psi or more. That's enough to cause permanent damage to your teeth, including cracked and chipped enamel, hairline fractures, and even wearing down of the teeth to the gumline. The enamel may become so worn that the inside of the tooth (called the dentin) is exposed. If bruxism isn't treated, it can lead to gum damage, loss of both natural teeth and restorations, and other more complicated jaw-related disorders (such as temporomandibular joint disorders). Over time, your teeth may become sensitive due to exposed dentin, and your jaws may even move out of proper balance. Grinding your teeth can also cause a wide variety of other symptoms including soreness and fatigue in your jaw and facial muscles, and earaches or headaches-especially when you wake up in the morning. There is no known cure for bruxism. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce or stop your grinding and even ways to limit further damage and pain due to grinding.


What Can I Do to Stop Grinding My Teeth?





Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep.





If stress is causing you to grind your teeth, ask your doctor or dentist about options to reduce your stress. Attending stress counseling, starting an exercise program, seeing a physical therapist or obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants are among some of the options that may be offered.





Other tips to help you stop teeth grinding include:





Avoid or cut back on foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as colas, chocolate, and coffee.





Avoid alcohol. Grinding tends to intensify after alcohol consumption.


Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food. Avoid chewing gum as it allows your jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and makes you more likely to grind your teeth.


Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax.


Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.
Reply:To answer the second question first - bite plate - to keep you from further damaging your teeth.





As to why your mom may be a drunk and your family may grind its teeth, check out www.hufa.org. It may be your mom has hypoglycemia. That can cause a lot of problems that can make life more stressful than it needs to be (including the teeth grinding). Since I have gotten my blood sugar under better control (including the yeast thing which has a link at that same site), it appears that I have stopped grinding my teeth.
Reply:my boyfriend has the same problem, but I have no idea how is he to solve it. he grinds his teeths so much it wakes me up. I think it has something to do with anxiety and surpressed anger, so maybe a physchologist would help???
Reply:Keep your Dental appointment and get the advise from the pro.
Reply:Same problem here. Most dentists won't even mention it. My new dentist mentioned it, but only after me starting about it. Do something about it while you can. You can have a protective device you can wear at night (yea, not so sexy :)



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