Some people know they grind or clench their teeth, but most people do not since it typically occurs while sleeping. The unnatural grinding of your teeth puts forces on your teeth many times greater than normal chewing.
Over time these abusive pressures can cause cracked, chipped, loose, flattened or worn down teeth and damage to the jaw joints. You may have a sore or tired jaw, earaches, difficulty opening and closing, sensitive teeth, headaches or even no symptoms at all. Stress or missing teeth can sometimes be a cause for grinding or clenching. The use of a “night-guard” is an easy solution to this damaging problem.