No, this is not a typo—I’m not talking about oral hygiene habits. Bruxing means to clench or grind your teeth, and it’s a fairly common, yet under-diagnosed, dental habit. Many people don’t realize that they are clenching or grinding their teeth, because they do it while they sleep. If you wake up with a dull headache or a sore jaw, or find yourself clenching your teeth during the day, you too, may be a bruxer. Bruxism can develop at any age, and may or may not cause discomfort. It may result in a loud “scraping” sound, or be silent. Some people brux regularly, some off and on and some for a time, then stop forever. The causes of bruxism are unknown, but some experts suspect that life stress, sleeping problems, or missing or crooked teeth may contribute. Children may grind their teeth as a result of colds, allergies or ear infections.  Bruxism can lead to severe pain of the facial muscles, headaches, sore teeth, fractured teeth, loose teeth and damage to the temporomandibular joints. Your dentist can diagnose this problem by your history of symptoms, and by examining your teeth. Bruxers often have irregular wear spots on their teeth. They may also have more than normal “looseness” of their teeth. Sometimes, if I’m not sure if a patient is grinding currently or not, I will recommend they wear a rubber mouthguard to bed. We check the guard in a month or two for signs of abrasion—or proof of grinding. People are often amazed that they do, indeed, grind at night, and are eager to do something to protect their teeth and jaws. Stay tuned next time for treatment options— and an exercise that just might help you.

Keep smiling!

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Caron Nelson Glickman, DDS has been helping her patients achieve and maintain healthy smiles in Duvall since 1992.

          For more information, contact 425-788-1551.

          Caron Nelson Glickman,DDS
          26425 NE Allen Street, #102 • Duvall
          425-788-1551 • caronnelson@comcast.net
          www.great-smile.com