Bruxism is caused by involuntary contractions of the muscles that are responsible for chewing. This reflex is normally related to stress and/or anxiety that can occur not only at night but also during the day. This can occur occasionally, but for some individuals it can be a chronic issue. Bruxism can be detected by a few different symptoms in the oral cavity:

> Enamel wear: this can cause and create sensitivity to hot and cold along with making the teeth more vulnerable.
> Pronounced teeth wear: the dentist will keep an eye on your dentition to see if there is any substantial wear on your teeth. If the situation becomes worse, it will alter the way you chew.
> Teeth or jaw pain: the contractions of the jaw muscles can cause muscle pain particularly during the day. The friction of the teeth can cause pain in the teeth themselves and their roots.
> Headaches and neck pain: these pains are often associated with accompanying pain in the jaw and/or teeth.
> Noise: In some case, the friction of the teeth produces a noise that can disturb the partner of the affected person.

If there is no other way to reduce nocturnal teeth grinding aside from finding ways to reduce stress, a nightguard would be one of the best solutions as per the recommendations of the dental professionals at Centre Dentaire NP. Worn at night, this custom-made nightguard allows the jaws to relax, in addition to serving as protection for the teeth.