Health

Understanding the Types, Causes & Treatment of Teeth Grinding ( Bruxism) 

Overview

Bruxism or Teeth Grinding is an oral ailment where the patient used to grind, clench or gnash your teeth. If someone is suffering from bruxism, then he may unconsciously clench his teeth irrespective of time. When someone clenches his teeth at the time of awake, it is known as awake bruxism; when he clenches his teeth during sleep, it is known as sleep bruxism.

If a person grinds his teeth a lot, he may suffer from bruxism. In addition, it may cause jaw pain and other teeth problems. Sometimes patients are grinding their teeth unconsciously during sleep.

So, if you are suffering from teeth grinding problem, then take the help of a dentist. Although the Bruxism treatment is effective, the dentist will give you a nightguard to prevent teeth grinding.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is teeth related problem that deteriorates oral health. It refers to the grinding of teeth frequently. The occasional grinding of teeth does not cause harm. But frequent grinding of teeth can hurt our jaw muscle, teeth, and temporomandibular joints, which connect the jawbone to your skull, allowing you to open and close your mouth.

Type Of Bruxism

You can divide bruxism into two different types. The grinding action may take place irrespective of you are asleep or awake. However, awake and asleep bruxism is considered two different conditions:

1) Awake Bruxism

When you are going through emotional stress it can lead to awake bruxism. You may clench your jaw and grind your teeth when you feel anxious, angry, or stressed. It is common, nothing to worry. It often doesn’t need medical treatment. When you get emotionally relieved, awake bruxism will stop automatically.

If awake bruxism becomes severe, the doctor suggests some stress management techniques relax your mind. That will gradually reduce the severity of grinding problems.

2) Sleeping Bruxism

Sleeping bruxism is way more harmful than awake bruxism. In the primary stage, you may not realize this abnormality. It is challenging to identify how strong you are clenching your jaw and teeth. Sleeping bruxism is stronger than awake bruxism. Here, you may unconsciously apply up to 250 pounds of force on your teeth, which may cause jaw pain and loosen your teeth. Clenching causes severe headaches.

The Physical Signs Of Teeth Grinding Or Bruxism

Common signs and symptoms of bruxism include:

  • Teeth clenching or grinding, it is strong enough to disturb your sleep
  • Your teeth become fractured, chipped, loose, or flattened
  • Damage tooth enamel leads to exposing a deeper layer of your tooth
  • Intensify tooth sensitivity and cause gum disorder
  • Tight jaw muscle that is unable to open and close completely
  • Cause severe headache
  • Jaw, neck, and face soreness and pain
  • Even causes pain feels like an earache, though there is no ailment in the ear
  • Sleeping problems
  • You can chew anything inside of your cheek

Cause Of Teeth Grinding Or Bruxism

Teeth grinding or bruxism can happen due to different reason, including:

Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and taking drugs is the common cause of bruxism. These lifestyle habits damage the entire oral health.

Drinking excess coffee (more than six cups of coffee a day) may cause teeth grinding or bruxism.

Stress and anxiety also the many causes of bruxism. It leads to a sleep disorder. Some anti-anxiety drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also responsible for grinding teeth or bruxism.

Also Read: Dental Implants – Are They Expensive Or Cost Effective?

Who Is At Risk Of Bruxism?

Both men and women may suffer from bruxism roughly at the same rate. If you have a family history of teeth grinding, then you may suffer from bruxism.

People more prone to bruxism include:

  • Who are smoking cigarettes and coffee.
  • Persons with chronic stress and anxiety
  • Patient who are taking an anti-anxiety medication
  • Genetic habit

Can Children Suffer From Bruxism?

Yes, children can also suffer from bruxism. If your child suffers from bruxism, you may hear the grinding sound while they are sleeping. But the good thing is that children’s bruxism does not lead to severe damage because children’s teeth and jaws change with their growth.

Still, in few cases, some children continue to grind their teeth till their teenage. Vigorous grinding of children leads to jaw pain, headaches, wear and tear of teeth, and jaw clicking.

Teeth grinding in children also come from misaligned teeth, heredity, obstructive sleep apnea, allergies, misaligned teeth, and mouth irritation.

How To Treat Teeth Grinding?

There is no medication to treat teeth grinding. But your dentist may fit you with a nightguard to protect your teeth from sleeping bruxism.

The dentist may also review your medications and habits whether they are contributing to any stress. For example, stress is a factor that causes intense teeth grinding. Healthcare providers may suggest you reduce stress. You can manage your stress following cognitive behavioural therapy, sleeping pills, exercise, meditation, and yoga.

You need to follow a healthy lifestyle avoiding alcohol, excess caffeine, colas, chocolates, smoking. Also, don’t chew non-food items, such as pens, pencils, rubbers.

If you are suffering from intense teeth grinding problem along with other oral or dental problem, take guidance from a dentist from Best dental clinic in Chennai

Also Read: 10 Tips to Restore your Oral Health

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Akshay Sharma

Hi! I’m Akshay Sharma. I’m a blogger at Imagination Waffle. I love to read and write about Fitness, Health & Lifestyle topics. You can contact me at Twitter or Instagram.

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