Bruxism refers to grinding of teeth. Bruxism is believed to be an involuntary contraction of muscle that occurs mostly at night (though in some it may occur even during daytime) due to relaxation of muscles after overwork.
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Bruxism is a habit whereby an individual grinds ones teeth and typically includes the clenching of the jaw. It commonly occurs during sleep and for some during waking hours while conscious attention is distracted. It occurs in most humans at some time in their lives. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can lead to many long lasting problems.
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Over the years, the teeth will get worn down so much that the teeth’s nerves eventually start to getting exposed, causing severe pain which can only be treated with root canal treatments or by carrying out extractions.
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Over time, bruxism can cause dental damage and abnormal tooth wear patterns since this repetitive movement abrades the tooth structure and can lead to the wearing down of the cutting edges of the front teeth and the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Eventually this will cause dental pain and tooth sensitivity, pain from the jaw’s joint (TMJ pain) and headaches from the muscles which cause the clenching of the jaws.
Symptoms:
- Teeth Grinding
- Damaged Enamel
- Tooth sensitivity
- TMJ Disorder
- Sore Jaw and Clicking Sound In The Jaw
- Sticking Or Locking Of The Jaw
- Headache
- Neck and upper shoulder pains
- Sleep Apnea (some believe sleep apnea is the etiology behind bruxism and vice versa).
- Loosened Fillings
Most of Indians go on to develop symptoms, such as jaw pain and headaches. A sleeping partner or parent may notice the behavior first.
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- Exercises (hardly found beneficial in bruxism patients)
- Cold and hot fomentations
- Relaxing baths
- Splints (innumerable types)
- Psychological therapies
- Long acting lateral Pterygoid blocks
- There are many other treatment options also proposed but our aim is not to dig out the facts that are already known.
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Stabilization splints can prevent and/or reduce the intensity of jaw clenching while you sleep, which can minimize headaches and create a variety of other benefits as,
- Reduces teeth grinding and abnormal muscle contractions by nearly 70%
- Doesn’t trigger your gag reflex
- Costs less and has fewer side effects than prescription drugs
- Allows you to avoid the need for tooth repair due to jaw clenching and teeth grinding in your sleep
Are stabilization splints the answer to your headache nightmares? Talk to our Dentist to see if stabilization splints can help you live a happier, more pain-free life.
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The purpose of a Dental Night Guard is to hold the jaw in a neutral position. While in this position the top teeth will not come into contact with the lower teeth. Since everyone’s mouth is different, Bharath Dental Clinic, in Jayanagar Bangalore, believes that each patient should get the individual treatment they need. This includes discussing the options of different types of teeth grinding night guards, to taking an impression of the teeth to ensure a perfect fit.
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Some Facts about BruxismSome people may refer bruxism as clenching of teeth but according to me clenching should not be confused with bruxism as it is a separate disease.
Most of the bruxism patients experience grinding of teeth at night time (night grinders) but few patients may also experience day time teeth grinding. Most tenderness and tiredness in the jaw muscles is felt after waking up from sleep in the morning. Sometimes it may go unnoticed. It may turn out to be a terrifying condition for some people. Sometimes it can be so debilitating that it can make the person go crazy and the sufferer may even fall into depression. To make the condition worse for the patient, most doctors and dentist are not able to exactly diagnose the exact cause of the disease and they just end up relating the disease to stress. At times this condition can put the patient into so much stress and depression that the patient may even develop suicidal tendency.