Bruxism is an affliction where the individual clenches their jaws and gnashing their teeth.  It occurs in most people at some period of their lives but is usually a passing phase and does not result in any serious health issues.  It is not a disease as such but rather a subconscious action or habit that can affect people both when awake and asleep. Serious Bruxism effects usually occur when the person is asleep.  While bruxism is not a disease but more of an uncontrollable habit, it can, if it continues for a long period, affect the overall health and lead to other medical problems arising.

Bruxism effects on the health are usually classified as either short term or long term.

In the short term, the most common bruxism effects range from aching facial and jaw muscles, difficulty in being able to open the mouth completely, earaches, severe and regular headaches, loose and damaged teeth, sleep deprivation and pain in the shoulders and neck.  Luckily in most cases when the bruxism stops, either as a natural process or through medical treatment, the effects also fade away on their own with no need for any additional treatments or therapy.

However, what is often overlooked is the affect that bruxism can have on a spouse or partner.  The grinding and disturbed sleep of the nocturnal bruxism patient can affect the sleep of the spouse or partner and cause him or her to sleep in a different room which often leads to huge strains on the relationship.

If bruxism persists and does not fade away by itself over time, it is categorized as long term bruxism and this may have far more serious effects and require specialized medical care.

The most common long term affect is the wear on the teeth and even broken teeth which can result in disfigurement. Wear on teeth can lead to further dental problems and issues with the teeth.

While dental surgery and the fitting of caps and dentures can correct the disfigurement, nothing can be attempted until the bruxism is finally stopped.  Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ is a more serious complication from the point of view of long term health complications- the stress the bruxism places on the joints and muscles of the jaws, neck and shoulders can affect mobility.  While these problems may be cured by physiotherapy, in many cases long term medication and even invasive treatment is often called for.

Since it is not a life threatening disease and the many bruxism effects are not widely known, most people treat the problem lightly.  Bruxism effects are not limited to just the mouth and jaw but, as mentioned above, can extend to other parts of the body and become the cause of other health issues.