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Taking the Pain
out of
Bruxism
controls chewing.
In older teens, other than
psychological factors, smoking,
illicit drug use, as well as
medications, trauma, and
disease can cause bruxism.
Teeth grinding, or “bruxism,” is
For anyone suffering from head pain, ear or jaw
pain upon awakening from sleep could be suffering
from bruxism. Specialist Pediatric Dentist Dr.
Anukriti Pathak explains more about this problem
and what can be done to help it.
Defined
Bruxism is the medical term
for the grinding of teeth or the
clenching of jaws. It refers to
movements of the teeth and
jaws that are not necessary
for functional activity; for
example: chewing, speaking,
or swallowing. In healthy
infants, sleep bruxism typically
starts at about one year of
age, soon after the front teeth
come into the mouth. In young
children, teeth grinding may
be due to the immaturity of
the neuromuscular system that
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Nov/Dec 2016