The term “bruxism” is used to describe a variety of behaviors that involve clenching or grinding one's teeth and jaw muscles. The most common form of this behavior involves repeated opening and closing of the mouth without any food in it. This type of activity may occur while awake or during sleep. Other forms include tongue thrusting, lip biting, cheek chewing, and jaw tapping. Seek help from this popular dentist in gloucester if you grind your teeth, because as you will see from the information in this article, it is essential to get to grips with this problem in its early stages.

 

Bruxism Types

There are three different types of bruxism depending on the force of grinding: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary bruxism refers to repetitive biting patterns that happen throughout the day. 

Secondary bruxism happens only after eating or drinking something sweet or acidic. 

Tertiary bruxism occurs when someone has been sleeping for long periods, so he or she wakes up with sore jaws. All three types of bruxism can result in damage to the teeth and gums. 

On the other hand, these types are categorized under these two;

Awake Bruxism

Awake bruxing is clenching or grinding movement involving the mandible during the day. Most of the time it is tied to stress, anxiety, and the consumption of some medications, and is considered less risky than sleep bruxism because you can notice that you are grinding your teeth and stop doing it immediately. 

Sleep Bruxism

Sleep bruxism occurs when a person clamps down on his or her jaws during deep sleep, causing grinding and gnashing sounds in the mouth. This condition is considered really serious because, unlike awake bruxism, you are not aware of it, and besides that, you will be using up to 250 pounds of force, which can really damage your teeth and jaw badly. 

Symptoms

People who have sleep bruxism don’t know most of the time that they clench their teeth unless their partner has noticed that. You can always determine whether you are suffering from sleep bruxism by experiencing many symptoms include: 

• Pain in your teeth, face, jaw, neck, head, temporomandibular (TMJs), ears;

• Worn-down, flattening, loosened, loss, broken tooth; so you will end up needing a dental implant procedure;

• Difficulty falling asleep;

• Aesthetic problems;

And more.

 

Causes

There are many possible causes for bruxism according to this expert dentist in Naples FL. These include stress, anxiety, depression, certain medications, alcohol use, cigarettes and caffeine consumption, lack of exercise, and some medical conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorder. 

In addition, several problems can lead to bruxism including sleep disorders, wrong lifestyle, cracked crowns, missing teeth, and abnormal bites.

 

Prevention

The best way to avoid developing bruxism is by avoiding all forms of stress and tension. 

Stressful situations often trigger bruxing habits because they make us feel anxious. If you find yourself feeling stressed out, try taking deep breaths and relaxing your body with slow movements. 

You might also consider seeing a dentist who specializes in treating patients with TMJ disorders. Dentists trained in these areas will have special tools and techniques designed specifically to help treat and manage symptoms associated with bruxism.

 

Treatments

If you notice signs of bruxism, talk to your doctor about treatment options. There are two main types of treatments available: behavioral therapy (behavior modification technique) and pharmacological therapies. 

Behavior Modification Technique works on changing bad habits that may be causing jaw clenching and grinding into good ones through learning new ways of thinking and behaving. 

The goal of this type of therapy is to reduce the frequency and intensity of these behaviors so they don’t cause any damage to teeth or gums, as well as changing the way patients think and behave so they no longer have negative thoughts associated with grinding their teeth. 

It also makes the patients become aware of their problem and control their jaw muscles involved in chewing and swallowing instead of relying on these actions to relieve stress. 

Behavior modification also helps patients develop coping skills to deal with stressful situations without resorting to teeth grinding. 

Pharmacologic Therapies work directly on the brain to reduce muscle spasms and pain caused by bruxism. Medications such as antidepressants have been shown to reduce symptoms in some people with mild-to-moderate cases of bruxing. 

Other types of treatments:

Stress Reduction Techniques such as practicing meditation, yoga, exercising, and talking to a therapist can help reduce stress, anxiety, and other causes that lead to teeth grinding. 

Mouthguards are also a very common treatment for this condition, they absorb the force you are applying and prevent your teeth from grinding against each other.

Mouthguards come in different thicknesses and they are custom-made for each patient to fit their teeth and jaw size.

  

Finally,

If you or your partner experience frequent nighttime clenching and grinding while asleep, it may be helpful for you to visit your dental clinic to see an orthodontist or periodontist or encourage them to go to a dental professional if they are the one who is suffering from this condition. 

Dentists can recommend appliances that fit over the teeth such as a mouthguard to protect against injury during sleep and provide relief from tooth pain If possible. 

If you have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder like insomnia, then it may be helpful for you to learn how to relax before bedtime so that you will fall asleep more easily. 

Always remember that the best way to avoid developing bruxism is by avoiding all forms of stress and tension. Try not to worry about things that are beyond your control; instead, focus on the positive aspects of life.

 

Author: Dr. Nabil Mockbil from Swedish Dental Clinic in Dubai Marina