What is Bruxism and How Can You Treat It?

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What is Bruxism and How Can You Treat It?
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Bruxism

• Bruxism is a condition thats characterized by
  the grinding, gnashing, or clenching of teeth.
• Bruxism is generally thought of as a
  sleep-related movement disorder
• Both types of bruxism, sleep-bruxism and
  awake-bruxism, involve involuntary and
  unconscious movement
• Since people with sleep-bruxism can remain
  unaware of the problem for years or until the
  development of other complications, knowing the
  signs and symptoms of this condition is
  important.

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Symptoms Of Bruxism

• Increased tooth sensitivity or pain
• Unexplained earaches
• Broken or chipped crowns or fillings
• Pain or soreness in the neck, face, or jaw
• Damage on the buccal pouch from gnawing
• Flattened, chipped, fractured, or loose teeth
• Worn tooth enamel, revealing the deeper layers of
  the toot
• Complaints of loud tooth-grinding sounds from
  sleeping partners
• A locked jaw that makes it impossible to open or
  close the mouth completely
• Sleep disruption

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Causes Of Bruxism

• Although the exact causes of both awake-bruxism
  and sleep-bruxism remain unclear, doctors believe
  that a combination of psychological, physical,
  and genetic factors might be responsible
• Awake-bruxism might stem from emotions like
  anger, anxiety, stress, tension, or frustration
• Awake-bruxism might also be a habit that occurs
  during deep concentration or a coping strategy
  like nail biting
• Sleep-bruxism, might be a sleep-related chewing
  activity that correlates with arousal during
  sleep.
• Several factors can increase the risk of
  developing this medical condition

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Factors that lead to Bruxism

• Intense Emotions High levels of anxiety, stress,
  anger, or frustration can lead to this condition
• Age Teeth grinding rate decrease with age. It is
  more common in early childhood.
• Personality Type People who have hyperactive,
  aggressive, or competitive personalities are more
  likely to develop bruxism than others.
• Medications and Other Substances Teeth grinding
  might be one of the less common side effects of
  psychoactive drugs, particularly certain
  antidepressants. Nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol
  use might increase the risk of teeth-grinding.
• Other Disorders Teeth-grinding can be associated
  with several disorders and mental illnesses.
  Examples include epilepsy, obstructive sleep
  apnea, REM behaviour disorder, hyperactivity
  disorder, dementia.

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Complications

• Teeth-grinding does not usually lead to serious
  complications. However, severe cases can cause
• Damage to the jaw, teeth, crowns, or restorations
• Severe facial pain
• Tension-type headaches
• Temporomandibular joint disorders
• Significant swelling and pain in the jaw

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Bruxism Treatments

• Teeth-grinding has no cure
• However, if required, through a combination of
  therapies, the symptoms and adverse effects
  associated with teeth-grinding can be reduced and
  even eliminated
• Better sleep hygiene and reduced levels of stress
  might be beneficial and can be achieved by
• Practicing yoga, meditation, and deep breathing
  exercises
• Going to bed and waking up at consistent times
• Indulging in warm baths, facial massages, and
  compresses regularly
• Eliminating or reducing the intake of nicotine,
  alcohol, and caffeine
• Avoiding hard foods and instead chew gum to help
  keep your jaw muscles more relaxed

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Bruxism Treatments

• Should lifestyle modifications prove ineffective
  or insufficient, dental devices or other
  therapies can be used to help alleviate the
  problem
• Dental devices for bruxism include occlusal bite
  guards, splints, and bite plates, all of which
  can be custom fitted by a dentist
• Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs), for
  instance, are designed for overnight wear and can
  be fitted by a dentist to help prevent
  teeth-grinding
• For severe cases, there are several approaches to
  help prevent and correct the damage to your teeth
• You should consult a dental care to find the best
  option for you