Grinding Chronicles: Battling BruxismDo you experience jaw pain early in the morning when you wake up? Do your jaws feel sore and tender? What you notice may be due to bruxism! But what exactly is bruxism, and how can it be treated?
The dentist in Kelowna BC, and their team are here to answer all your queries about bruxism, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. So read on!
A comprehensive guide to bruxism
Bruxism is defined as a dental condition that is characterized by an involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth. This could probably occur when you are awake (awake bruxism) or during your sleep (sleep bruxism). Occasional teeth grinding is normal, but persistent, or chronic (long-lasting) clenching can hurt your teeth, jaws, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Bruxism is considered a common sleep problem with a prevalence of 10% among adults and 15% among children.
Teeth grinding can cause several problems, such as:
- Wearing down of teeth
- Fractured or loosened teeth
- Damage to your TMJ, jaw, and neck muscles
- Loss of teeth
- Aesthetic problems due to changes in your facial profile
Causes
There are different causes of bruxism for children and adults.
Causes in children
- Malaligned teeth
- Pain such as earache
- Stress due to academics
- Medical conditions like hyperactivity or cerebral palsy
Causes in adults
- Sleep disorders
- Stress and anxiety
- Lifestyle habits like smoking and alcoholism
- Consumption of recreational drugs and excess caffeine
- Certain medications like anti-anxiety drugs
Classical symptoms of bruxism
Signs and symptoms of teeth grinding include:
- Headaches
- TMJ pain
- Ear pain
- Aching teeth, especially after waking up
- Wearing down the enamel of the teeth
- Aching in the jaws while chewing
- Clicking or popping sound in the TMJ
- Jaw stiffness
- Myofascial pain
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Tooth indentations
Treatment options for bruxism
Here are some common ways in which bruxism is treated:
- Conservative methods
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- Relaxation exercises
- Stress management techniques like yoga
- Physical therapy
- Mouthguards/Nightguards
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- These are acrylic dental appliances that are fabricated according to your natural dentition.
- These help to minimize the abrasive action of tooth surfaces during sleep.
- These devices also help stabilize the occlusion and prevent damage to the teeth and TMJ
- NTI-tss device
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- This device is designed to fit your front teeth.
- NTI-tss helps to prevent the rear molars’ grinding by limiting the temporalis muscle’s contraction.
- Botox injections
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- This is an excellent neuromodulator that aids in the relaxation of the facial muscles that have been weakened due to bruxism.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
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- It is a type of talk therapy that helps deal with the psychological symptoms of a particular disease or condition.
Bruxism or teeth grinding is a common condition with many possible causes in both children and adults. Treating it early is important to avoid dental complications.