This woman was grinding her teeth so much they fell out: 'It happens all the time'

Grinding your teeth is sometimes an unconscious habit, but it can have disastrous consequences for your dental health. While some people are more at risk of developing painful migraines because of it, others actually witness their teeth falling out. This is what happened to Michelle Waldron.

Michelle Waldron has been grinding her teeth for years

Michelle Waldron hardly dares to smile anymore. The young woman is now left with stubs, as some bits of her teeth keep falling out onto her plate when she eats. The 34-year-old woman suffers from bruxism, also known as teeth grinding. She does it at all times, on both rows of her teeth, but her condition seems to get worse at night. She told The Sun:

It happens all the time. Whether I’m watching a pop concert or something I’m enjoying on the TV, I realise I’m grinding my teeth together.

Michelle has been grinding her teeth for the better part of the last decade or so, and it has gotten so bad that bits are falling off as time goes by, leaving her with nothing but stubs. Now, the Irish woman almost never smiles, for fear of revealing her condition.

Michelle has almost stopped smiling

For a new set of teeth and retainers, Michelle would have to pay about £5,000, which she hasn't got. Botox can also help with the condition, but it is too expensive. She also explained feeling extremely low:

I really don't want to grind all my teeth out. It's embarrassing already, but to have no teeth left in my mouth, I don't want to think about how bad that will be. I have no confidence now as it is.

Although she grinds her teeth constantly, Michelle noticed her condition gets worse when she is really trying to concentrate on something in particular. She explained:

I try to practice meditation and I go to the gym to give my mental health a boost, but I just don’t feel like smiling anymore.

According to the NHS, bruxism is often linked to stress and anxiety, but it can also be a side effect of snoring or sleep apnoea. Symptoms usually include face, neck and shoulder pain, as well as a painful jaw, headaches, earaches, disturbed sleep and broken teeth. When in doubt, you should book an appointment with your dentist or your local GP.

Read more:

Wisdom teeth: The surprising reason why humans have them

Dental hygiene: What are the black triangles between teeth you sometimes get?

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Sources used:

The Sun: WORN DOWN I grind my teeth so much that they’re starting to disappear – bits fly out onto my plate while I eat my dinner

NHS: Teeth grinding (bruxism)