Bruxism

Do you ever wake up in the morning with a sore mouth or jaw? Have you ever slept over at a friend's house and been told, “You grind your teeth when you sleep”? If so, you might have bruxism.

Bruxism is a condition in which you grind or clench your teeth. It is a habit rather than a reflex chewing activity. If you are bruxist, you may unconsciously clench your teeth together during the day or grind them at night, which is called sleep bruxism.

 

Bruxism may be mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to physical and oral symtoms are developed. Therefore, it's important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.

 
Effects of bruxism
Symptoms and signs of bruxism, which can vary from mildly irritate to medically dangerous, depending on the severity of the condition.

1.     Physical symptoms

·        Headache

·        TMJ (temporamandibular joint) discomfort

·        Facial myalgia (muscle pain)

·        Ear ache- because of severe jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear

·        Tightness and stiffness of the shoulders

·        Limitation of mouth opening

·        Sleep disruption of the individual as well as the bed partner

2.     Oral symptoms

·        Abnormal tooth wear

·        Fracture of the teeth and fillings

·        Teeth sensitivity

·        Gums damage

·        Excessive tooth mobility 

Fractured tooth

Attrition and dentine exposure

Attrition

Abnormal tooth wear

Who is at risk of from bruxism?


Doctors don't completely understand what causes bruxism.

However, the risk of bruxism is increasing if people with,

• Stressfull  lifestyle
• Another sleep disorder, such as:
• Snoring
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Sleep talking
• Young children- it usually goes away by adolescence

• ·         Stimulating substances

o    Smokers

o    High alcohol intake

o    Drink 6 or more cups a day of tea or coffee

• An uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications-sleep, depression and anxiety

What Can I Do to Stop Grinding My Teeth?

• ·         Avoid stress - Learn stress management and relaxation techniques. Seek professional counseling if necessary.

• ·         Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverage - it often make the problem worse.

• ·         Wear a mouth guard - to prevent tooth damage caused by bruxism. 

Mouth Guard= habit breaker

Red circle-the spot where the teeth grind

Other tips to help you stop teeth grinding include:

• Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food. 
• Avoid chewing gum as it allows your jaw muscles to get more used to clenching and makes you more likely to grind your teeth.
• Train yourself not to clench or grind your teeth. If you notice that you clench or grind during the day, position the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This practice trains your jaw muscles to relax.
• Relax your jaw muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of your earlobe.