Teeth grinding may or maynot be apparent to you or your partner if you grind during your sleep. It is most often the cause of stress or can be a sign of obstructive sleep aponea. Aside from the fact that grinding can cause shortening, chipping and cracking of your teeth, OSA has a raft of detrimental consequences on health such as poor growth and concentration in children, and risk of cardiovascular disease in adults, so distinguishing between the two causes is imperative. If it is stress related, relaxation is recommended, but this is often easier said than done.
By Dr. Lynette Lim
