Defination
Bruxism is when you clench or grind your teeth. The term clenching means you tightly clamp your top and bottom teeth together, especially the back teeth. The stressful force of clenching causes pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. This can lead to jaw joint disorders, jaw pain and soreness, headaches, earaches, damaged teeth, and other problems. These symptoms are often collectively referred to as "TMJ"

Nocturnal bruxism is an involuntary act of grinding teeth during sleep. It is estimated that 20 percent of American adults have bruxism and is mainly caused by stress.

Causes

Causes
The direct cause of bruxism is unknown but sleep experts believe there are several factors related to this disorder:

Stress Facial trauma Oral trauma Nervous system malfunction

Poor diet Allergies Alcohol Drugs

Bruxism causes tempromandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), headaches and earaches. Teeth can be ground down so much that periodontal disease as well as tissue and nerve damage can occur and teeth can be become virtually useless. This disorder affects both men and women equally and can go undetected for years.

Symptoms

• Teeth grinding, which may be loud enough to annoy sleeping partners
  
• Sore or painful jaw
  
• Headache
• Earache (partly because the structures of the temperomandibular joint are very close to the ear canal, and partly because of referred muscle pain -- pain that is perceived in a location different from its actual source)
  
• Anxiety, stress, and tension
  
• Insomnia, depression, eating disorders
  

Signs and tests
An examination can rule out other disorders that may cause similar jaw pain or ear pain, including ear disorders such as ear infections , problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) itself, and dental disorders. The person may have a history of significant stress and tension.

Treatment
A dentist usually detects bruxism. Molars, located in the back of the mouth, are usually the teeth that suffer the most damage. Diagnosis is generally based ondental history and careful examination. Regular trips to the dentist can help deter bruxism.

Two treatments are primarily used for bruxism. Because stress is primarily the reason why people grind their teeth, relaxation therapies to reduce habitual grinding are strongly recommended. The other treatment used for bruxism is a rubber mouth guard, known as an occlusive guard.