How can you check if you have bruxism?

Question

It's kind of hard to know if your asleep so is there anything I can do to figure out if I have it using common household objects or whatever?

I just don't want to take any risks with my teeth and I want to stop worrying every night if I'm grinding away.

Thanks in advanced.

Answer 1

Ask the person who sleeps beside you. Single? Put a football mouthpiece in and see if it's all chewed up in the morning.

Answer 2

Your best bet is to ask your sleep partner. Your next best bet is to ask your dentist, who will ask you some pertinent questions and examine your muscles and the surfaces of your teeth for evidence of bruxism.

I don't mean to differ, but the "try a mouthguard" approach might not work. Sometimes, wearing a mouthguard in itself will stop the bruxism, so you won't see any marks on the surface. Sometimes, a store-bought mouthguard will not be the right fit for you and your TMJ's and it will cause more problems than it solves.

Answer 3

Sorry to hear about your little girl losing her Mummy it can't be easy for either of you. It could well be the stress causing this problem or making it worse.I agree with Erik C, take her to the Dentist and they can sort out a gum shield device to stop the wear and tear on her teeth. If you leave it she could get other problems including headaches.

Answer 4

Well I have it, and at one point they wanted to give me this wooden wedge to put in between my teeth at night. I never did it, but seems like a good idea. Also, sometimes you can just tell by the wear and tear on your back teeth. Also, if you grind your teeth right now, and it doesn't feel smooth, maybe feels soft or scratchy, you probably have some night grinding.

Answer 5

If your jaws hurt in the morning, it might be a sign you are grinding your teeth. I wouldn't put anything in my mouth unless it was prescribed by a dentist, though. Dentist can usually tell if you are grinding your teeth just by visual exam. Check in with your dentist for peace of mind.