Bruxism, commonly known as teeth clenching, affects millions of people all over the world.
At some point or another, most people will clench their teeth.
It's a common way to deal with stress.
But for people who suffer from Bruxism, the clenching of teeth is chronic and the resulting pain severe.
Bruxism sufferers generally clench their teeth at night while they sleep.
The force at which most people clench is shockingly strong, and the pain upon awakening sickening.
Chronic teeth clenching can result in a whole host of problems.
One major complication is that eventually the teeth become worn down in certain areas, causing the person's bite to be off.
If left untreated, Bruxism can even lead to chipping or breaking of teeth possibly leading to an exposed nerve which, if you've had one, is one of the worst pains you can imagine.
The only thing worse than the pain, is the eventual root canal that is required to fix the tooth or teeth.
A less intense symptom but one that is still painful and inconvenient is that the teeth can become very sensitive to hot and cold.
So eating certain foods will become most likely impossible.
Over time, when teeth have been allowed to grind against one another, they actually move or flex at the gum line causing the enamel to wear away.
The result is receding gums, another symptom which means more trips to the dentist.
People with Bruxism also tend to bite the insides of their cheeks in the molar area which can be painful and cause infection.
And finally, chronic teeth grinding is one of the major reasons people develop TMJ.
Currently, the most common treatment against Bruxism is a custom-made mouth-guard that is worn during the night to prevent unconscious teeth grinding.
Incorporating some kind of stress relief into your day can also help, as again, most teeth clenching is a result from people having too much stress.