In a recent interview with ex-president of the Minnesota Dental Association, Kimberley Harms DDS, WebMD asked about the myths and facts surrounding cavities.

Harms, the consumer advisor to the American Dental Association, came up with a list of 15 things you should know. Reading through the list, you will notice that of the 15 items, a full 20% are Bruxism related.

I’ve reproduced the relevant items below and you can read the full article here.

10. Chips and cracks in teeth lead to decay

Fact. If cracks and chips create a hiding place for bacteria, a spot where your toothbrush can’t reach, those areas are more prone to tooth decay.

“Lately we’re seeing more and more cracks in teeth because people are grinding,” Harms says. “Stress, worries about the economy, it makes some people grind their teeth more. … Stress can play an important role in tooth health.”

12. Cavities are the prime reason for root canals

Myth. You need a root canal if the nerve inside a tooth is damaged. Untreated cavities may eventually lead to nerve damage, but there other causes, too.

“Cracks, fractures, or other types of trauma to the tooth can also cause nerve damage,” Harms says. In many cases “clenching and grinding can traumatize the tooth severely enough to need root canal therapy.”

13. Clenching and grinding leads to cavities

Myth and sometimes fact. “Teeth clenching and teeth grinding is one of the most destructive things you can do to your teeth,” says Harms. With normal chewing, teeth touch for mere milliseconds, suffering very little stress. But clenching and grinding puts tremendous pressure on your teeth for extended periods.

That strain “can eventually cause damage and cracks and fractures of your teeth,” says Harms. If those fractures expose the weaker dentin, tooth decay can form at a faster rate. “Typically grinding and clenching lead to the need for crowns to restore the fractured tooth or root canal therapy to treat the traumatized nerve.”

Yael and Don from the University of Indiana discuss teeth grinding, Bruxism and teeth guards.

Click here for the Audio (I can’t get realplayer to work with wordpress, sorry!)

Bruxism. Is this a disease, religion, political ideology? Yael and Don provide the answer in this Moment of Science.

Y: I think I might have a case of bruxism.

D: Bruxism. Is that some kind of disease?

Y: It is the gnashing, grinding, and clenching of the teeth. It’s a common problem, but a      lot of people don’t know they do it because they do it in their sleep.

D: I’ve heard about teeth grinding. What makes you think you do it, though?

Y: I’ve been waking up here and there with headaches, and sometimes my teeth seem to      be sore. The other day my jaw hurt as well.

D: Sounds more like you’re a hypochondriac.

Y: Hey.

D: I’m just kidding. Seriously, you should check that out with your dentist. If you are      grinding your teeth you could be wearing the enamel down, as well as causing      damage to your jaw. When we’re asleep we’re capable of grinding our teeth six times      as hard as we might in the day. That kind of pressure can do a lot of damage.

Y: I don’t even want to think about it. The idea of such pressure makes me cringe. What      can the dentist do for me, though?

D: For one, the dentist might fit your teeth for a plastic mouth guard that will protect      your teeth when you grind. Other options range from relaxation exercises to      reconstruction of the surfaces of your teeth.

Y: Relaxation exercises? Does that mean stress causes bruxism?

D: It’s one theory, but doctors also believe that sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, and      crooked or missing teeth might cause bruxism too.