Bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, is a condition that involves the involuntary clenching and grinding of teeth, often occurring during sleep.
The grinding of teeth can be a mild annoyance or a risk to your dental health in more severe cases.
This article will provide an in-depth understanding of bruxism, including its symptoms, underlying causes, methods of diagnosis, and available treatment options.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism, also known as bruxia, refers to the repetitive action of grinding or clenching one’s teeth, commonly occurring during sleep or unconsciously throughout the day.
During episodes of bruxism, teeth are tightly pressed together and move back and forth, causing a distinct grinding sound. At first glance, bruxism seems like just a bad habit. However, it isn’t merely a simple habit; it represents a significant medical condition. Although occasional teeth grinding is normal, chronic and severe bruxism can cause several issues.
In severe cases, this involuntary motion of the jaws is more than just an auditory annoyance. Left untreated, bruxism can trigger a range of severe consequences, particularly affecting dental health. These encompass an increased likelihood of tooth damage, heightened tooth sensitivity, loss of teeth, and a greater risk of fractures. Additionally, the condition might cause discomfort and dysfunction in the jaw, temporomandibular joints, neck muscles, and even potential alterations in facial structure.
Types of bruxism
Bruxism is an involuntary action, and while the teeth grinding is the same, bruxism might refer to two separate conditions.
Sleep bruxism
Sleep bruxism occurs when you grind your teeth in your sleep. This form of bruxia is more harmful because one might not be aware of it at all. And even if you know you grind your teeth in your sleep, you will have no idea how strong the grinding and clenching of the jaws is. So it is hard to estimate the damage. The human bite is especially strong, so extensive clenching of your jaw muscles might lead to jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage.
Awake bruxism
Another form of bruxism is when you grind your teeth during the day. While awake bruxism is an involuntary reaction as well, one might catch it and adjust. With some self-awareness, concentration, and the right stress management techniques, one could get rid of the bad habit, or at least lessen the damage.
Bruxism symptoms
The most prominent symptom of bruxism is the act of grinding teeth. However, since this typically occurs unconsciously, it might be challenging to recognize without external observation. There are several other symptoms that might result from bruxism and could signal the condition.
- Headaches, especially in the temples
- Pain in the jaws, neck, or TMJs
- Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw
- Teeth pain, fracture, or sensitivity
- Locking of the jaw
- Pain while eating
- Intense facial pain in the morning that gets better during the day
- Aching ears, not related to actual ear issues
- Loose teeth
- Not getting enough rest while sleeping
If you are dealing with sleep bruxism, these symptoms might be more apparent after waking up, but some of them might even cause long-term damage.
Bruxism causes
The most common cause of bruxism is general stress. This might mean anger, frustration, anxiety, pain, frustration, or a stressful lifestyle. Chronic stress might lead to muscle tension throughout the body, including the jaw. As a result, the grinding of teeth becomes a subconscious outlet for releasing this tension. Individuals who experience emotional stress might unconsciously channel these emotions into the act of teeth grinding during sleep.
An imbalance in brain neurotransmitters might also lead to the development of bruxism. These chemical messengers play a critical role in regulating mood, emotions, and stress responses. Disruptions in neurotransmitter levels can impact the brain’s ability to regulate muscle activity, potentially contributing to teeth grinding. Certain antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), might be associated with an increased risk of teeth grinding as a side effect.
Bruxism is more common among children than adults. For children, stress is not the most common cause thought. Instead, factors such as allergies, mouth irritation, teeth problems, and sleep apnea might all contribute to teeth grinding. It’s crucial to identify and address these factors early on to prevent long-term dental complications in children.
Risk factors for bruxism
There are some factors that make it more likely to develop bruxism.
- A stressful lifestyle, constant anxiety, or frustration can increase your risks of involuntary teeth grinding.
- Bruxism is more common among children and, in a lot of cases, goes away with age.
- An aggressive, hyperactive, or competitive personality type might increase your risk of developing bruxism.
- Some antidepressants, smoking, alcohol, or drug use might also be a risk factor.
- Sleep bruxism is more common in families with a history of the disease.
- Some other medical conditions might also lead to the development of bruxia. Sleep apnea, ADHD, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, epilepsy, and some other disorders might increase your risks.
Diagnosing bruxism
If you experience any symptoms of bruxism, you might want to consult your GP or dentist.
Doctors will examine your teeth, looking for loose or chipped teeth, wear or damage on the surface, or flattened tips. They might also ask questions about your lifestyle, stress levels, sleep habits, and medications. Tenderness in the jaw muscles, cheeks, or neck might also signal the presence of bruxism.
X-ray scans can help determine the level of damage to the teeth or underlying bones.
In some cases, bruxism might be the symptom of another sleep disorder that needs to be addressed. Doctors might order a sleep study – known as polysomnography – during which they will be monitoring your muscle activity during sleep.
If bruxism is related to anxiety or psychological problems, doctors might recommend therapy.
Bruxism treatments
In milder cases, bruxism might go away on its own. Especially in children who might simply outgrow the issue.
However, if bruxism is severe enough to be a danger to dental health, sleep quality, or mental health, treatment is vital. Doctors might recommend different approaches depending on your medical history, lifestyle, and the underlying causes of the problem.
Managing stress
Stress and anxiety are the major causes of bruxism, so appropriate management of stress levels might help cure the condition.
Reducing outside stressors is not always an option, but adjusting how we react to them is always in our control. Meditation, therapy, and learning healthy coping strategies and relaxation techniques can all help with this.
In severe cases, a therapist might recommend the use of stress-relieving medications, CBD, or other forms of stress management supplements. Magnesium supplements can also help with managing the effects of stress in a natural and healthy way.
Dental approaches
The dental approach to treating bruxism doesn’t stop the condition from occurring but helps reduce damage to the teeth.
Splints or mouth guards are personalized devices that fit your teeth perfectly and can keep them separated during sleep. This will help avoid damage done by grinding.
Another crucial part of the treatment is fixing dental damage that has already occurred. Chipped or loose teeth might cause issues while chewing, and the damaged surface of the teeth will make them sensitive and more prone to further damage. Dentists will use various dental correction methods to fix these issues, but it’s also vital to deal with the source of this damage – bruxism itself.
Medications
Bruxism doesn’t respond well to medication in general. However, in some severe cases, doctors might recommend various medications, especially for short-term treatment.
These might include stress relief medicine, like antidepressants or anti-anxiety pills. Muscle relaxants taken at night might help reduce the effects of bruxism until a more permanent solution is established.
In some cases, other treatment methods might not bring relief, and doctors may recommend botox injections to help with the issue.
Other approaches
There are some alternative methods and approaches that might help reduce the negative effects of bruxia.
Lifestyle factors can impact the frequency and severity of bruxism episodes. With some lifestyle changes, you can reduce your risk and help lessen the effects of existing bruxism. Tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine are all substances that can exacerbate stress and anxiety, which are prominent triggers for bruxism. Minimizing their intake may reduce the likelihood of clenching and grinding.
Behavioral changes also hold potential benefits in managing bruxism. Simple adjustments in jaw positioning during the day can help break the cycle of habitual grinding.
Biofeedback is an emerging technique that empowers individuals to gain control over physiological processes that are typically involuntary, such as muscle tension. In the context of bruxism, biofeedback involves using monitoring devices to provide real-time feedback about muscle activity in the jaw. This heightened awareness enables individuals to consciously relax the jaw muscles.
Bruxism might occur related to other sleep disorders and medical issues, so addressing these underlying problems is a common approach to treatment. Sleep apnea and GERD are two of the most common conditions associated with bruxism. Additionally, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and engaging in relaxing bedtime rituals can promote better sleep quality, reducing the likelihood of sleep bruxism episodes. Innovative solutions like our REM sleep patches can help restore the quality of sleep without the use of drugs.
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