Description

The medical term for teeth grinding is bruxism (BRUK-siz-um), a condition in which squeezing or rubbing the teeth together, also called the clenching or grinding. Bruxism is common and can occur during the day or night. If you have awake bruxism, you clench or grind your teeth when you're awake, without being aware that what you're doing. If you have sleep bruxism, you clench or grind your teeth during sleep. Sleep bruxism is a sleep-related movement disorder.

People who clench or grind their teeth during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing is called sleep apnea. Some people may not know they have sleep bruxism until a tooth or jaw problems because of it.

In some people, bruxism can be a problem and happen often enough to lead to jaw pain, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. The grinding sound you can interrupt a bed partner's sleep. Learn about the symptoms of bruxism and to obtain regular dental care to check their teeth.

Symptoms

The symptoms of bruxism may include:

  • Teeth grinding or clenching the teeth, which can be strong enough to awaken from your dream partner.
  • Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose.
  • Wear of the tooth enamel. This can expose the inner layers of the teeth.
  • Tooth pain or sensitivity.
  • Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won't open or close all the way. Your jaw may pop up and click.
  • The jaw, neck or face pain or discomfort.
  • The muscles of the jaw are larger than expected.
  • The pain feels like an ear pain, although it is not really a problem with the ear.
  • Headache starting in his temples — the sides of your head between the forehead and the ears.
  • Sleep problems.

When to see a doctor

Consult your dentist or other health care professional if you have symptoms that could be caused by clenching or grinding the teeth, or if you have other concerns about your teeth or jaws.

If you notice that your child has symptoms of teeth grinding, make sure you mention in your next appointment with the dentist.

Causes

Exactly what causes bruxism are not completely understood. It may be due to a mixture of physical, mental health, and genetic factors.

  • Awake bruxism may be due to emotions such as anxiety, stress, anger, frustration, or stress. Bruxism can also be a coping strategy or a habit when you are thinking deeply or focus.
  • Sleep bruxism can be a sleep-related chewing activity linked with brief interruptions during sleep.

Risk factors

These factors can increase your risk of bruxism:

  • Stress. Have anxiety or stress can lead to teeth grinding and clenching the teeth. So can anger and frustration.
  • Age. Bruxism is common in young children, but this usually disappears in adulthood.
  • Type of personality. Have a personality type that is aggressive, competitive or hyperactive can increase your risk of bruxism.
  • Awake tummy time habits. Mouth habits, such as the lips, tongue or cheek biting and chewing gum for long periods of time, may increase the risk of awake bruxism.
  • Medicines and other substances. Smoking tobacco or drinking beverages with caffeine or alcohol may increase your risk of bruxism. So may the use of recreational drugs, or taking drugs that are not approved by your health care professional. It is not common, but bruxism can be a side effect of the medicine, mental health, such as some antidepressants, and drugs to treat seizures and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • The members of the family with bruxism. Sleep bruxism tends to occur in families. If you have bruxism, other members of your family also may have bruxism, or a history of the same.
  • Other conditions. Bruxism may be associated with mental health and medical conditions. These may include Parkinson's disease, dementia, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), epilepsy, night terrors, sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea and ADHD.

Complications

For most people, bruxism does not cause serious complications. But bruxism severe can lead to:

  • The damage to the teeth or jaws and fillings, crowns, dental repairs.
  • Tension-type headaches.
  • Severe facial or jaw pain.
  • The conditions that occur in the temporomandibular joints (tmjs). These are the joints of the jaw, just in front of the ears. TMJ problems can cause pain and can sound like a clicking when you open and close the mouth.

Diagnosis

During regular dental exams, your dentist will check for signs of bruxism.

Evaluation

If you have any of the symptoms of bruxism, your dentist looks for changes in the teeth and mouth. This can be seen in the following visits. The dentist can see if the changes are getting worse and if you need treatment.

Your dentist will also check that:

  • Pain in the jaw muscles or joints of the jaw.
  • The stiffness or pain when moving the jaw.
  • Dental changes, such as flattened, broken or missing.
  • The damage to the teeth, the underlying bone and the inside of his cheeks. You may need x-rays of the teeth and jaw.

The determination of the cause

If your dentist determines that you have bruxism, the dentist conversations with you to help you figure out your cause. You will be asked questions about your dental health, medications, routines, and habits of sleep.

A dental exam can find other conditions that can cause the jaw or ear pain, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, other dental problems or health conditions such as sleep apnea.

Referral to a specialist

If the bruxism is likely to be caused by the main problems of sleep, your health care professional may recommend that you see a specialist in sleep medicine. A sleep medicine specialist can do tests, such as a sleep study that the controls of teeth grinding during sleep. The test also checks for sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.

If the bruxism is likely to be caused by anxiety or other mental health disorders, you may be referred to a mental health professional such as a licensed therapist or counselor.

Treatment

In many cases, no treatment is needed. Many children outgrow bruxism without treatment. And many adults do not grind their teeth enough to need treatment.

If the bruxism is severe, the options include certain dental treatments, therapies, and medications. These may help to prevent further harm to the teeth and relieve jaw pain or discomfort. If the bruxism is caused by a mental health or medical condition, treatment of that condition may stop or lessen the grinding and clenching the teeth.

Talk with your dentist or other health professional about the plan that works best for you.

Dental treatments

Your dentist may suggest one of these methods to prevent or correct the wear and tear of your teeth, despite the fact that you can't stop bruxism:

  • Splints and mouthguards. These hold the top and bottom of the teeth apart, while you sleep. This can stop the damage caused by clenching and grinding. Splints and guards can be hard plastic or soft materials that are placed on the top or bottom of the teeth.
  • Dental Correction. If it is severe wear of the teeth has led to sensitivity, or you may not chew correctly, you may need dental correction. Your dentist modify the shape of the chewing surfaces of your teeth or use crowns to repair damage.

Therapies

One or more of these methods can help to reduce or get rid of bruxism:

  • The stress or anxiety management. If you grind your teeth because of stress or anxiety, you may be able to prevent the problem of learning tips for relaxation, as meditation, yoga, and exercise. The advice of a mental health professional can help.
  • The change of behavior. Once you know that you grind and clench your teeth during the day, you may be able to change the behavior by using the appropriate practice of the mouth and jaw position. Ask your dentist to show you the best position. Create reminders for you throughout the day to check your mouth and jaw position. You can also practice the control of the mouth habits, such as the lips, tongue or cheek biting and chewing gum for long periods of time.
  • The relaxation of the jaw. If you are having a hard time to change the habit of clenching and grinding during the day, the jaw, the relaxation exercises or biofeedback can help. Biofeedback uses monitoring equipment for teaching the control of the activity of the muscle in his jaw.

Medications

In general, medications are not very effective for the treatment of bruxism. More research is needed to determine if they are effective. Examples of drugs that can be used for bruxism include:

  • Muscle relaxants. In some cases, and for a short period of time, your healthcare provider may suggest taking a muscle relaxant before bedtime.
  • Injections of Botox. Botox injections are shots that the use of a toxin to prevent the muscle from moving for a limited time. These injections relax the muscles of the jaw. This may help some people with bruxism severe that do not improve with other treatments.
  • Medicine for anxiety or stress. Your health care professional may suggest short-term use of antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to help you deal with stress or other emotional concerns that may be causing your bruxism.

The treatment of other conditions that can cause bruxism

The treatment of these conditions may help:

  • Medicine side effects. If you have bruxism as a side effect of a medication, your healthcare provider may change your dose of medication or to suggest a different drug.
  • Sleep-related disorders. Getting treatment for sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea may help you sleep bruxism better.
  • Medical conditions. If another medical condition, such as Parkinson's disease, is causing bruxism, treatment of that condition may eliminate or reduce clenching and grinding.

Lifestyle and home remedies

These measures of self-care you can maintain the bruxism happens, or help with the treatment:

  • Reduce stress. For example, try meditation, music, a warm bath, yoga, or exercise. These can help you to relax, and can decrease your risk of clenching and grinding.
  • Do not drink stimulant drinks in the evening. Don't drink caffeinated coffee or tea with caffeine after dinner, and not to drink alcohol during the night. These can worsen clenching and grinding.
  • Do not smoke. If you smoke, talk with your healthcare provider about ways to help you quit smoking.
  • Practice good sleep habits. Get a good night of sleep, which may include treatment for sleep problems, it can help reduce bruxism.
  • Talk to your sleep partner. If you have a sleep partner, ask your partner if you do any grinding or clicking sounds while you sleep. You can then report it to your dentist or other health care professional.
  • Schedule regular dental exams. Dental exams are the best way to find out if you have bruxism. Your dentist can detect the signs of bruxism in your mouth and the jaw during regular visits and tests.

Preparing for your appointment

You can start by seeing your dentist or your primary healthcare professional. You may also be referred to a specialist in sleep medicine.

What you can do

Prepare for your appointment by making a list of:

  • The symptoms you have, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason for the appointment. If you have the mouth, jaw or a headache, take note of when it happens, like when you wake up or at the end of the day.
  • Your medical history, as the past, bruxism and treatments, and any medical conditions.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All medications, including otc medicines, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements you are taking and the dose. Be sure to include anything that you've taken to help you sleep.
  • Questions to ask your dentist or other health care professional.

Questions may include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or long-term?
  • What is the best treatment?
  • What other treatment options?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Is there a generic option for the medicine you're prescribing?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you suggest?

Feel free to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Some of the questions that a dentist or other health care professional can do include:

  • When did you first start having symptoms?
  • Do you have symptoms all the time or come and go?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

Be prepared to answer questions, so that you have time to talk about what's most important to you.

Symptoms and treatment of Teeth grinding (bruxism)