What Bruxism (teeth grinding) does to your teeth: 

· Micro-cracks and broken restorations, eventually leading to nerve damage.
· Enamel attrition down to the dentin; removing the rounded edges of teeth and producing sharp edges, causing sensitivity to heat and cold.
· Abfractions or excessive wear of anterior teeth resulting in esthetic concerns and restorative challenges.
· Severe wear facets in posterior teeth causing reduction in vertical dimension, mandible overclosure, open contacts and food impactions.
· Gingival recession, due to pressure on the gingiva.
· Mobility of the teeth from rocking back and forth on the teeth.
· Headache and aching jaws due to overuse of muscles.
· Tongue indentation by constantly pushing the tongue against the teeth when in bruxing mode.
· Linea alba caused by the pressure exerted by the cheeks on the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth during bruxing.
· Earaches or ringing in the ear.
· Bilateral or unilateral hypertrophy and large muscle tonus of the masticatory muscles depending on if there is a more dominant grinding side.
· Buccal exotosis, excess bone as a result of the body’s defense to support the teeth.