Bruxism - Tooth Grinding - HealthSurgeon - Healthy Living and Fitness

Bruxism is the medical term for clenching or grinding your teeth. This is when you squeeze or rub your teeth together. This is a very common condition that many people aren’t even aware that they do. This is because bruxism happens subconsciously. There are two types of bruxism. Awake bruxism which happens in the daytime hours while you are awake. Sleep bruxism happens while you are sleeping, and usually more harmful since you sometimes don’t realize it is happening. Bruxism can happen to anyone but is most common in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood.

Symptoms

Symptoms can range from mild to severe. How bad your symptoms are depends on how often you clench or grind your teeth. Symptoms include headaches, earaches, sore jaw muscles, tinnitus, pain when you eat, difficulty opening and closing your mouth, worn tooth enamel, tooth pain, chewing the inside of your cheek, and flattened, chipped, or loose teeth.

Causes

The actual cause of bruxism is unknown. There are some risk factors that raise your risk of suffering from bruxism. Sleep bruxism tends to run in families. Age is a risk factor since this is more common in people who are younger in age from childhood to young adulthood. Having a sleep condition such as obstructive sleep apnea, sleep talking, or sleep walking can raise your risk of bruxism. It can also be a side effect of certain medications. Conditions such as Rett syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, GERD, and having night terrors also raise your risk. Smoking, using drugs, heavy alcohol use, or drinking a lot of caffeine daily can also raise your risk. Stress, competitiveness, anger, frustration, or even extreme concentration can lead to clenching or grinding your teeth. Being more aggressive or hyperactive can also be a risk factor. Biting your lip, tongue, or cheek can also lead to bruxism.

Diagnosis

You are usually diagnosed with bruxism from a dentist while doing a physical exam. If you are having any symptoms, listening to your symptoms your dentist may come to the conclusion that you are suffering from bruxism. In some scenarios your dentist may request a sleep study. This is when you go to a sleep center where you will be watched and monitored while you sleep to get a concrete diagnosis if you have sleep bruxism.

Complications

Complications of bruxism can happen. Usually this is dental damage that occurs from grinding and clenching your jaw too often. You can also suffer from tension-type headaches. Severe facial and jaw pain can occur. Temporomandibular joint problems can also occur.

Treatment

If you suffer from mild or intermittent bruxism treatment may not be required. Just trying to raise awareness and reduce stress can help you with symptoms that may be uncomfortable but manageable. There are treatment options for bruxism that are severe. Mouth guards may be recommended. You will wear your mouth guard when you are most likely to grind or clench your teeth. This may be while you are sleeping, or during certain times of day. Stress reduction techniques such as meditation, exercise, or cognitive behavioral therapy can also help treat bruxism. Lowering your caffeine and alcohol intake. Stop smoking. Take muscle relaxers before bed. Botox injections can also help relax your jaw muscles and reduce pain. If you go with Botox injections as a treatment you will have to repeat injections every 3 to 4 months.

With bruxism it is important to have regular dental checkups. This can make sure your teeth are remaining healthy and you aren’t causing more damage that goes undetected. Make sure you also have good sleep hygiene if you suffer from sleep bruxism. This means you should go to bed at the same time every night, don’t take naps, only sleep when you are sleepy, exercise daily, don’t watch TV before bed, no caffeine, smoking, or alcohol before bed, make sure your bedroom is a peaceful environment, don’t use a smartphone, laptop, or tablet at least one hour before bedtime. It is also suggested with bruxism to avoid hard chewy foods, don’t chew gum, and learn to reduce stress the best way for you.

Conclusion

Bruxism is usually harmless. It is a common condition where you squeeze your jaw or teeth together. It is most commonly known as grinding or clenching your teeth. It can happen to anyone but is more common in younger people. There is no exact cause that doctors know about, but there are some risk factors. Learning how to increase awareness of when you are clenching or grinding your teeth can help you learn ways to stop yourself from doing so. This is easiest when you suffer from awake bruxism. Sleep bruxism is more harmful, since you are not always aware you are doing it, and usually needs treatment. Treatment depends on the severity of the grinding as well as the severity of the symptoms.