Been grinding my teeth for years and just found out how much damage bruxism has been doing to my hygiene
I went to the hygienist last month after months of ignoring some type of ache in my back molars and she pointed at the wear patterns on my enamel and asked if I knew I was a bruxist which I didn't. After I did some reseach I read that bruxism is an involuntary condition involving grinding and clenching of the teeth that occurs during both being awake and asleep and can lead to significant tooth wear, TMJ disorders, tooth sensitivity and gum recession. I had most of those symptoms and my naive self let it slide.
The stress factor made it click. I work in a high pressure environment and the last two years have been pretty rough. I was playing on my phone late one night after a brutal week, jaw tight and realized I had been clenching the whole time without noticing. I do it in the gym when lifting aswell. That's apparently awake bruxism happening in real time.
My hygienist caught it at a stage where a night guard and some lifestyle changes can stop further damage but another year of ignoring it would have meant more work. Since it is possible to grind your teeth during sleep and be otherwise unaware that bruxism is occurring it is important to know the signs and receive regular dental care. If you wake up with jaw soreness or your teeth have gotten more sensitive than they used to be its worth bringing up at your next dentist appointment