There are not many people familiar with “What is Bruxism”. This term is from “brychein”, greek word, that means: gnashing of teeth.
of course the word of “bruxism” is not generally known to lay people. If you ask to 100 people, I believe there might be none of them knows about it, however it more convenient than you call “teeth grinding or clenching”.
Bruxism may have different things to different experts. Hence we have to try to clarify the terminological confusion that still surrounds this subject. It can perhaps be best defined as the involuntary, excessive grinding, unconscious teeth grinding, tapping, or clenching of teeth.
When this situation occurs during you are sleeping, then it may be best to call it sleep bruxism. But there are some people brux while they are awake as well, in this case the condition may be called as wakeful bruxism.
All forms of bruxism involve forceful contact between the biting surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. In grinding and tapping, the contact involves movements of the lower jaw and unpleasant sounds which can often awaken housemates. Clenching (or clamping), on the other hand, involves inaudible, sustained, forceful tooth contact unaccompanied by mandibular movements.
How bad bruxism is?
By reading above, you have understood what is bruxism now, but how bad the effect is? you can imagine being crushed by 250 pounds! wooowww….You may be one of the around 30 million of Americans who grind, gnash and clench your teeth on a nightly basis. Grinding and Clenching are medically known as bruxism, and you are unknowingly exerting a range of 100 to 600 pounds per square inch of force on your poor little teeth!
Many people do not realize if they grind their teeth during sleep. Bruxism usually occurs during the night and may become strident enough to awaken their sleep partner. Some tell-tale signs are associated with TMJ disorders such as soreness near the ears when yawning or chewing, tenderness of the jaw muscles, clicking or popping of the jaw and headaches. Additional symptoms may include worn down, flattened, fractured, loose or chipped teeth; chewed-up cheek tissue; increased tooth sensitivity and ultimately tooth loss.
So, you have familiar with the term of What Is Bruxism now.
