Bruxism is the medical term for a condition in which you tend to clench, gnash or grind your teeth, either during waking hours or while asleep. For many people, the Mayo Clinic states, the condition is mild and they do not require any treatment. For others, however, it can cause damage to their teeth and cause disorders of the jaw and headaches.
Grinding
If you have bruxism, you may clench your teeth or grind them, particularly at night. The sound actually may be loud enough for your sleep companion to hear and be woken by. This grinding causes some of the other symptoms of the condition, such as damage to your teeth. This damage can appear as a wearing down of the teeth or your teeth appearing flattened, chipped or fractured. This also can be seen in some bruxism sufferers as a wearing down of enamel, which may be so severe that you can see deeper tooth layers.
Sensitivity
Because you are grinding down your teeth with bruxism, you are getting closer to the tooth's nerve. This can cause sensitivity in the tooth, either to temperature---hot or cold---or to pressure, just as with a typical toothache. The Mayo Clinic states this is an indication that it is time to see a dentist or doctor.
Mouth
Symptoms of bruxism can include peripheral pain and other conditions as well. These might include pain in the jaw and muscle tightness in the jaw, pain in your face that is chronic and headaches. There also is the potential for an earache because the muscles of your jaws contract while you are grinding your teeth.
Other Symptoms
You may find you have indentations you didn't notice before in your tongue. The cheek tissue on the inside may be chewed when you grind, too, so you can feel irregularities inside your mouth. There also may be problems with your jaw, such as jaw muscle enlargement, and tightness or pain in your jaw.
