Are Jaw Grinders Angrier People?

Is jaw grinding a medical condition?

Yes, it is called bruxism in the medical world, and it can be a fairly serious condition. About 10% of the adult population suffers from bruxism, which when left untreated can result in grooves in the teeth, cracked teeth, broken fillings, and in some extreme cases it can even cause indentations in the tongue and cheeks. All this grinding can also cause headaches and pain in your ears, as well as the occasional episode of lockjaw. Lockjaw results when you clench your teeth so tightly that a small piece of cartilage that usually rests between the upper and lower jaw bones slides forward and folds up. This makes it nearly impossible for a person to open their mouth without the aid of muscle relaxants.

A person normally bites with about 70 pounds of force per square inch. However, a person suffering from bruxism can grind their teeth with more than 300 pounds of force per square inch. Since our teeth and jaws were not meant to routinely deal with that much pressure, it is no wonder that bruxism can cause such serious problems.

So who is most likely to be a grinder?

A new study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine looked at the personality types of a wide swath of participants and found that highly determined people as well as highly stressed people (often they were the same person) were the two most likely bruxism sufferers. Surprisingly, the reported rate of bruxism in adults was 10%, which is lower than the 15% of children who grind their teeth at night. The experts were not sure why a higher percentage of children are teeth grinders, especially because a similar personality break down of children showed that determined and stressed children did were not more likely than their peers to suffer from bruxism.

What can be done?

First, if you suspect you may grind your teeth, talk to your dentist about it. They will be able to tell if you do and by looking at the patterns of wear on your teeth. If you do turn out to be grinder the most common course of action is a combination of medicine and a night guard. Night guards fit onto your upper teeth and prevent you from grinding your upper and lower teeth together. They range in price from the $500 ones that your dentist fits, to the $50 drugstore kits that you mold yourself. However, while the drugstore kits sounds like a bargain, most people recommend getting your dentist to make you a guard because it will fit and function better.

Another thing that is often recommended to adults with bruxism is to try and eliminate stress from their lives. If you can’t watch a football game without getting worked up, or driving at rush hour really gets you going, try avoiding those activities. Unfortunately, many people are stressed because of work or health issues, or one of any number of things that are incredibly difficult to eliminate from your life. So if you can’t make your life easier, at least take care of your teeth by visiting your dentist.

Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist who uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition to his technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you. Check out our Twitter, Facebook page, and website.