The Causes Of Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding is a medical condition wherein a person unconsciously clenches his or her teeth, usually while asleep. Teeth grinding or Bruxism, is not merely a habit. In fact, it is a condition that is currently being addressed by today's medicine. Doctors believe that bruxism is caused by a number of factors. And these factors are the following:

1. Stress

Stress is the most common reason for bruxism. Most doctors suppose that stress is the primary cause of teeth grinding during sleep. Stress can disrupt a person's sleeping cycle. And if a particular sleeping pattern is messed up, the person ends up clenching his teeth unconsciously and intermittently during sleep. This is the area where a lot of researchers are currently focusing on, as this explanation is the one most feasible to them.

2. Frustration and suppressed anger

There are a many instances that a person clenches his fist or teeth if he is very angry with somebody or something. Many psychologists believe that this is the reason why people clench their teeth during the day. Suppressed anger is wrath a person can't let out. And it is quite hard to manage. People who end up grinding their teeth in frustration or anger should consult with a qualified psychiatrist to address the problem.

3. Aggressive personality

This factor causing bruxism is related to anger and frustration. Just like the latter, this one also deals with one's emotions. But unlike suppressed anger, aggressiveness is expressed anger. In this case, the person lets out all his frustration and anger to the subject. And he unconsciously grinds his teeth in the process.

4. Abnormal alignment of teeth

The abnormal alignment of the upper and lower teeth is referred to as malocclusion. This is one of the physical causes of teeth grinding. Dental experts believe that because there was something abnormal to the structure of a person's teeth, they grind involuntarily against each as they make contact. While this is another feasible cause of bruxism, it is yet to be confirmed with clinical studies.

5. Growth development of the teeth and jaws.

This is the common reason of bruxism in children. For kids 7 years old and below, their teeth are on its growing stages. There are a lot of instances where the actual growing of the teeth causes itchiness in the gum area, causing kids to grind their teeth grudgingly. Teeth grinding becomes the body's response to the changes happening in the jaws and the teeth.

It may also happen that as the teeth grow, the upper and the lower molars don't fit together. In an attempt to make them complement comfortably with one another, teeth grinding occurs. Bruxism in children may not be very common. But they usually outgrow this condition as their teeth improve in structure over time.

6. A complication of another disease

There are studies showing that bruxism can be caused by another disease, such as Parkinson's disease or Huntington disease. Parkinson's disease is the degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, which affects the person's motor skills. Huntington's disease, on the other hand, is a neurological disorder that is characterized by lack of movement coordination. People suffering from any of these two disorders are likely to grind their teeth either during the day or at night.

7. Drugs and medications.

Several studies are being conducted to check whether certain drugs use to treat depression, as well as other similar psychiatric medications, could be the causes of bruxism. The results are yet to be published, but a lot of doctors are suspecting that these types of drugs can trigger teeth grinding.

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