Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws. Clenching your teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. The symptoms can cause temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ). Clenching or grinding while awake is especially common during periods of concentration, anger, or stress, and often occurs without a person being aware of it. Bruxism during sleep is often a bigger problem because it is harder to control.
Symptoms of bruxism include:
- Anxiety, stress, and tension
- Depression
- Earache
- Eating disorders
- Headache
- Muscle tenderness
- Hot, cold, or sweet sensitivity in the teeth
- Sore or painful jaw
- Insomnia