Causes and Treatment of Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) — How to Protect Dental Health with a Custom Night Guard

Causes and Treatment of Teeth Grinding, Yeonse Jeongwon Dental Clinic

🦷 Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) — Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatment Methods

Teeth grinding (Bruxism) refers to the unconscious habit of grinding or clenching the teeth while sleeping or while awake.

It may seem like a simple habit, but if left untreated, it can cause a variety of problems, including tooth damage, jaw joint issues, and headaches.

Today, we will look at the causes, symptoms, and effective treatment methods for teeth grinding one by one.

🔍 1. Main Causes of Teeth Grinding

• Stress and anxiety: mental tension causes the jaw muscles to tense unconsciously

• Sleep disorders: sleep apnea, insomnia, light sleep, etc.

• Malocclusion: when the teeth do not align properly

• Lifestyle habits: excessive caffeine and alcohol intake, smoking

• Medication side effects: some neurological medications may have an effect

⚠️ 2. Symptoms and Side Effects Caused by Teeth Grinding

• Tooth wear, broken fillings and crowns

• Tooth sensitivity, exposed gum roots

• Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), headaches

• Neck and shoulder stiffness, enlarged facial muscles

Tip: If you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw, or if your family says you grind your teeth while sleeping, early diagnosis is needed.

💡 3. Treatment and Management Methods for Teeth Grinding

• Custom night guard fabrication

Protects the teeth so they do not directly hit each other

• Dental custom-made options are much more accurate and comfortable than over-the-counter products

• Orthodontic treatment

Improves tooth alignment when malocclusion is the cause

• Improve lifestyle habits

Relieve tension through meditation, stretching, etc.

• Reduce caffeine and alcohol

• Jaw muscle relaxation treatment

Relieve muscle tension with splint therapy, Botox, etc.

Night guard

🏥 4. Why Is Dental Care Necessary?

Because people often do not realize they are grinding their teeth, precise diagnosis and professional treatment are essential.

In particular, custom night guards are made by accurately scanning the shape of the teeth at the dental clinic, so

they cannot be compared with over-the-counter products in terms of comfort, effectiveness, and durability.

📌 5. Conclusion

If left untreated, teeth grinding can cause irreversible damage to the teeth and jaw joints.

Early detection and custom treatment are the best preventive measures.

If you wake up with a sore jaw or feel that your teeth are gradually becoming more sensitive, we recommend consulting a dentist.