What is bruxism?
Bruxism means gnashing of teeth that can include clenching, bracing and grinding of the teeth. If you find yourself waking up with sore jaw muscles or a headache, you may be suffering from bruxism. It usually occurs during sleep, but may also occur while awake. Bruxism may make your teeth painful and become sensitive to certain temperature and chewing. People who grind and clench their teeth, called bruxers. Sometimes bruxers also may bite their fingernails, pencils and chew the inside of their cheek. Teeth grinding or bruxism, is not merely a habit. In most people, bruxism is mild enough not to be a health problem.
What causes bruxism?
The below are some of the common causes for bruxism.
- Stress
- Sleep disorders
- Abnormal alignment of teeth
- Drugs and medications
- Sleep problems
- Sore neck or shoulders
What are the signs of bruxism?
Large number of symptoms is associated with Bruxism. Though most of bruxers not experiencing the following, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, eating disorders, depression, and soreness or pain in the jaw are generally referred as symptoms of bruxism . The appearance of fracture in teeth are the most common symptoms of bruxism. Pain in the mouth especially around jaws may also occur due to teeth grinding. . Clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. Sounds due to clenching or grinding teeth while sleeping is also a common symptom of Bruxism.
How do we find out if we have Bruxism?
If you ever wake up in the morning with a sore mouth or jaw, you grind your teeth when you sleep then you really have a bruxism. In serious cases, nighttime grinding can wear down tooth enamel and cause jaw problems and pain. In most cases a sleeping partner or parent may notice the behavior first. If you have sensitive to cold or hot or your teeth look yellow on the contacting surfaces then you may have bruxism
Whom should we consult if we have Bruxism?
Once you have bruxism, first you should consult your dentist. The dentist will examine your mouth and jaw for signs of bruxism, such as jaw tenderness and abnormalities in your teeth. The dentist will recommend treatment according to your present dental conditions and your past dental history.
Do need therapy?
You will have to consult your dentist who will assess the level of damage to the teeth. Mostly there would not be any therapy for bruxism, sometimes you may involve in some kind of treatments. Even though not scientifically proved, it primarily occurs in the lighter stages of sleep. Therefore, much of your treatment should be focused around ensuring that you are going to bed relaxed and ready to sleep, so that you enter a deep sleep as quickly as possible. In dental aspect, it involves being fitted for a dental guard or splint which protects the teeth against the nightly wear and tear caused by bruxism. There are many different types of splints. Some fit over the top teeth, some on the bottom. Since stress is also the major reason for bruxism, variety of techniques to remove stress and anxiety and to improve relaxation before bedtime will recommend.
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