Nocturnal teeth grinding (bruxism)
Teeth grinding or bruxism is a parafunctional activity that can cause damage to the teeth. For the majority of people this occurs during sleep and can be very pronounced. The causes for this are manifold. Such as, genetic factors and psychodynamic influences can play an important part.
In principle, teeth grinding is based on excessive tension and hyperactivity of the facial muscles. Frequently, the large masticus muscle (Musculus masseter) is the major cause, but also other muscles play a role. This hyperactivity can be targeted.