JACQUES DOUECK, DDS

NEWLY DISCOVERED FACTS ABOUT NIGHTTIME GRINDING:

Nighttime teeth grinding is an autonomic response in some people, with no direct cause.

Forty percent of people who ingest caffeine – even just a morning coffee – grind their teeth during sleep. Caffeine stays in your system up to 24 hours – so people who say they cannot have coffee because they have trouble sleeping are often right.

Alcohol or drug use will cause grinding 80 percent of the time. Even one glass of wine at night can cause grinding.

People who snore or have sleep apnea will clench or grind their teeth 80 percent of the time.

During REM sleep (rapid eye movement), there is more disturbed breathing and jaw movement. During REM sleep the rest of the body is almost paralyzed – and yet the jaw will move together with the eyes.

Restless leg syndrome is another good indicator of nighttime teeth grinding.

People with hypertension (high blood pressure) often will be actively grinding during sleep.

Patients who snore or have sleep apnea and wear a bite guard may be fi xing one problem while making another problem worse: bite guards let the jaw fall back even further and block the breathing even more. These patients require an appliance that addresses both issues – the snoring (sleep apnea) and the nighttime grinding.

Ninety percent of smokers grind their teeth during sleep.

WHAT RESEARCH HAS TAUGHT US ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE PRONE TO NIGHTTIME GRINDING:

Family members will usually be the fi rst to identify the problem. Noise of teeth grinding during sleep is a good measure of how much a person is grinding.

Wear on teeth is a result of long term grinding and it can be made worse by acidic foods or acidic saliva.

Sore muscles, headaches and neck and shoulder pain often come together, since posture is closely connected to clenching and grinding.

If the person’s bite has excessive contact on a few teeth, the combination of extra forces due to clenching and grinding at night will cause even greater damage.

Patients are often not aware of their nighttime clenching and grinding, just like they are not aware of snoring, so it is very helpful if family members can help report that they hear noise of grinding.

Patients who grind their teeth usually have breathing issues like snoring or apnea – which they usually fi nd out from a family member who heard the snoring or heard them stop breathing. This information is very important – since sleep breathing disorders can be life threatening – and patients must therefore ensure to report it to the dentist and physician.

WHAT DOESN’T CAUSE GRINDINGBad bite. Many people with a bad bite do not necessarily grind or clench their teeth while sleeping.

Life stress. Having a lot on your mind is more likely to cause daytime clenching or grinding. Many type A personalities, and many people who are under stress, do not grind at night – meaning that stress is not the cause of nighttime grinding.

Upper teeth that stick out (buck teeth), and a lower jaw that is orthodontically in a bad position, are not risk factors for grinding

JACQUES DOUECK, DDS

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grinding. Recent research, however, has revealed some startling facts.

If you are not sure if you clench or grind your teeth, your dentist can ask you some questions and examine your teeth, mouth and muscles. It is important to detect damage in the early stages to avoid more serious problems.

76 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

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