Bruxism, also referred to as teeth grinding, is a common condition that affects a lot of people. It’s characterized by the unconscious clenching/grinding of the teeth, which can occur during the day or night. Bruxism may lead to a range of dental issues like headaches, jaw pain, sensitivity, and tooth wear.
As a leading provider of night guard for jaw clenching, we discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of bruxism in detail:
Symptoms
Bruxism is a condition characterized by the unconscious clenching/grinding of the teeth. While it often occurs during sleep, it may also occur while awake. Bruxism has several symptoms, including earaches, headaches, jaw pain, sensitivity, and tooth pain. In certain cases, it can also damage your teeth, causing cracks, chips, and tooth loss.
Causes
While the exact cause of bruxism isn’t known, some factors have been identified as potential contributors. Since people clench/grind their jaw when they’re feeling anxious or stressed, anxiety and stress are thought to be a big cause of bruxism. Other potential causes include sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea and medications like amphetamines and antidepressants. In addition, some medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease can also contribute to bruxism.
Diagnosis
During regular dental exams, your dentist will check for signs of bruxism.
Evaluation
If you have any signs, your dentist looks for changes in your mouth and teeth over the next few visits to see if the process is progressive and to find out whether or not you need treatment.
Identifying the cause
If your dentist thinks you have bruxism, they’ll try to determine its cause by asking questions about your sleep habits, daily routines, medications, and general dental health.
To assess the level of bruxism, your dentist may check for:
- Missing/broken teeth, as well as other dental abnormalities
- Softness in your jaw muscles
- Other damage to the inside of your cheeks, the underlying bone, and your teeth, typically through X-rays
A dental exam may identify other disorders that can lead to similar ear/jaw pain, like TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders and other health conditions/problems.
Referral
Your doctor may recommend a sleep medicine specialist if your bruxism seems to be related to major sleep issues. This specialist may conduct more tests, like a sleep study, that will evaluate episodes of teeth grinding and find out if you have sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.
If teeth grinding seems to be related to anxiety or other psychological issues, you may be referred to a licensed counselor or therapist.
Treatment
Treatment isn’t necessary in most cases. Many adults don’t clench or grind their teeth badly enough to require therapy, and most kids outgrow bruxism without treatment. However, if the issue is severe, options comprise dental medications, therapies, and approaches to relieve discomfort and jaw pain and prevent more tooth damage.
Talk to your doctor or dentist to determine which option may work best for you.
Dental approaches
If you or your loved one has bruxism, your doctor will suggest ways to improve or preserve your teeth. While these methods may correct/prevent the wear to your teeth, they may not stop the bruxism:
- Dental correction: In serious cases (when tooth wear doesn’t allow you to chew properly and has resulted in sensitivity), your dentist may use crowns to repair the damage or reshape the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
- Mouth guards: Mouth guards from Clear Comfort Night Guards keep teeth separated to avoid the damage caused by grinding/clenching. They can fit over your lower or upper teeth.
Medications
Generally, medications aren’t effective for treating bruxism; more research is required to determine their effectiveness. Some examples of medications that can be used for bruxism comprise:
- Medication for stress or anxiety: To help you deal with stress or other emotional issues causing your bruxism, your doctor may recommend short-term use of anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants.
- Botox injections: Botox (a form of botulinum toxic) injections can help people with severe bruxism, especially those who don’t respond to other treatments.
- Muscle relaxants: In certain cases, your doctor may recommend you take a muscle relaxant before bedtime.
Other approaches
One of the following approaches can help relieve bruxism:
- Biofeedback: You may benefit from biofeedback if you’re finding it difficult to change your habits. This method monitors equipment and procedures to teach you to control muscle activity in your jaw.
- Behavior change: After finding out that you have bruxism, you can change the behavior by practicing proper jaw and mouth position. Ask your dentist to show you the best position for your jaw and mouth.
- Anxiety or stress management: If stress is the reason you grind your teeth, you can prevent the issue by learning strategies that promote relaxation (for example, meditation). However, seeing a counselor or licensed therapist can help if bruxism is related to anxiety.
Treating associated disorders
- Medical conditions: If an underlying medical condition like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) is the cause, you may improve bruxism by treating this condition.
- Sleep-related disorders: Addressing sleep-related disorders like sleep apnea may help manage sleep bruxism.
- Medications: If you develop bruxism as a drug’s side effect, your dentist may either prescribe a medication or change the existing one.
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About the Author
Kenneth T. Bailey is a well-known dentist working in California. He loves to communicate with his followers through his blogs whenever he finds the time.