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You might not even notice you are doing it but the process of grinding your teeth in your sleep canm have a number of bothersome consequences. It is just as common as snoring in the United Kingdom but because it is often inaudible, bruxism (as it is clinically known) often goes untreated.
Health professionals reckon that there are two major causes for nocturnal teeth grinding. If your dentist determines that it is being caused by stress then you may be referred to a psychiatrist. Another potential cause it that there is a problem with the alignment of your teeth. Your dentist can help by examining your mouth and ruling out or confirming if it is your bite which is the problem.
Bruxism is certainly worth dealing with in order to avoid the potentially serious knock on effects. The process of your teeth grinding together, night after night, can begin to wear down the hard, protective enamel and seriously compromise the healthy structure of your teeth. It can also contribute to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) where the connection between the jaw and the skull is damaged and causes pain in the neck, shoulders and face.
If your dentist determines that your teeth grinding is caused by an alignment issue then he or she might advise that you wear a brace in order to properly align your teeth. Or it might simply be the case that you are fitted with a mouth guard to wear at night so that the strain is taken off the process of grinding. You should always mention any concerns you have about nocturnal teeth grinding to your City of London dentist.