Grinding
Grinding (medical term)
Grinding (pronunciation: /ˈɡrʌɪndɪŋ/) is a medical term often used to describe a repetitive and forceful gnashing, clenching or rubbing of the teeth. This action can occur either consciously or unconsciously, during both the day and night.
Etymology
The term "grinding" originates from the Old English word "grindan", meaning "to rub together" or "to crush into small pieces". In the medical context, it was first used in the late 19th century to describe the action of forcefully rubbing the teeth together.
Related Terms
- Bruxism: This is a condition where an individual grinds, gnashes or clenches their teeth. Bruxism can occur during the day (awake bruxism) or at night (sleep bruxism).
- Malocclusion: This term refers to the misalignment of teeth, which can often lead to grinding as the individual attempts to align their teeth correctly.
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ): This is a condition that affects the joint connecting the jaw to the skull. Grinding can be a symptom of TMJ, as the individual may grind their teeth in an attempt to alleviate discomfort.
- Dental attrition: This is the loss of tooth structure due to mechanical forces, such as grinding.
- Stress: Stress is often a contributing factor to grinding, as individuals may grind their teeth as a physical manifestation of psychological stress or anxiety.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Grinding
- Wikipedia's article - Grinding
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski