1. Unconscious Teeth Grinding
Bruxism is the medical term for grinding, clenching or gnashing your teeth. This occurs when the person is awake and clenches their teeth tightly together as an unconscious movement in response to stress, tension, nervousness or anxiousness. When tooth clenching, grinding or gnashing occurs when the person is asleep, doctors call it sleep bruxism. Many people with sleep bruxism are unaware of their actions until complications develop.
2. Damanged Teeth Are Signs of Bruxism
There are several signs and symptoms that indicate bruxism. Some sleep bruxers grind or clench their teeth so loudly that the sounds wake up others sleeping nearby. Often, some of the signs of this unintentional habit are the damage done to the teeth including damage to the enamel of the tooth exposing the dentin, damage to the inside of the cheek and teeth that are flattened, chipped or worn down. Other indications include jaw pain and tightness, headaches, earaches, and chronic facial pain. Many bruxers also experience extreme tooth sensitivity, indentations on their tongue, TMJ or jaw dislocation.
3. Who are the Bruxers?
Bruxism affects both children and adults. Doctors are not certain of the cause of bruxism, but many believe that some adult daytime bruxers may have misaligned teeth. Many other adult bruxers share the common personality type of being competitive, aggressive and hyperactive. Others often have feelings of stress, tension, anxiety or feelings of suppressed frustration or anger. Professionals believe that certain cases of bruxism in children results from the development and growth of the teeth and jaw. Other causes of bruxism in children are feedings of anger or tension, a unconscious response to teething or earache pain.
4. Bruxism Can Be Complicated
Most cases of bruxism are not severe enough for serious complications to develop. In those cases that are severe, possible complications include chronic tension headaches, facial pain and earaches. Another possible complication involves temporomandibular disorders. Known as TMJ, this condition causes pain in the joints in front of the ears when your mouth opens and closes. Some bruxers cause severe damage to their teeth and jaw including any crowns or tooth restorations they have in their mouths.
5. Treat Bruxism If Severe
Typically, bruxism does not require any treatment. Most children outgrow the habit and many adults experience a mild form of bruxism. For those bruxers that require treatment, it is necessary to determine the cause. There are several possible treatments for bruxism. For cases of bruxism caused by stress, the bruxer may seek professional counseling or use stress reduction techniques including meditation or exercise. Bruxers that have a dental problem may need a mouth guard or mouth splint to protect their teeth. For teeth that are misaligned or badly worn from bruxism, a dentist may realign the teeth or do corrective or reconstructive surgery if needed. Behavior therapy, including biofeedback, often works to change bad habits causing bruxism. Many bruxers can change their bad habits on their own and correct problems such as bad jaw and mouth position. There are not any medications specifically for bruxism but muscle relaxants often provide relief.
