Sleep Bruxism (SB) is the gnashing, clenching or grinding of the teeth during sleep. It is the third most prevalent sleep disorder, after sleep talking and primary snoring. Tooth grinding or tooth-clenching during sleep may cause:
- Abnormal wear of the teeth.
- Sounds associated with bruxism (It's about as pleasant as fingernails on a chalkboard!).
- Jaw muscle discomfort.
Some people have episodes of SB that occur less than nightly with no evidence of dental injury or impairment of psychosocial functioning. Others experience nightly episodes with evidence of mild impairment of psychosocial functioning. Yet others have nightly episodes with evidence of dental injury, temporomandibular joint (jaw) disorders , or moderate or severe impairment of psychosocial functioning.
Source: The Sleep Well, Stanford University