Causes and Symptoms of Bruxism

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism can be defined as the grinding and clenching of our teeth. People who experience this are often not aware of this. Many people who suffer from Bruxism are not aware that they even have it Bruxism affects almost 30 to 40 million people in the United States

Some children and adults only suffer from bruxism at night, grinding their teeth during their sleep. Some others might have this involuntary practice of teeth grinding even in the day.

Wearing a mouthguard for bruxism is one of the best ways to prevent the grinding of teeth at night. A mouth guard for bruxism is a great device for anyone who grinds their teeth at night.

Bruxism is often related with anxiety and stress, while some experts believe that bruxism is just a habit and nothing more than that.

Symptoms of Bruxism

Are you a bruxer? Read the follow symptoms of bruxism and see if they apply to you.

  • Rhythmic tightening of your jaw muscles.
  • Grinding sounds while sleeping that might cause sleep disturbances for the person lying next to you.
  • Unexplained headaches in the morning
  • Pain in the jaw upon awakening.
  • Long lasting facial pain.
  • Worn down teeth, chipped dental fillings, injured gums.
  • Pain in the jaw joints.

How to Diagnosis Bruxism

If you have any of the above symptoms, please see a dentist immediately. A dentist can tell you if you are suffering from bruxism and help you to stop grinding your teeth.

A more thorough analysis may be needed if the dentist suspects any dental problems to be the primary cause of your bruxism. Additionally, your dentist will also examine your gums and teeth to locate any damage caused by teeth grinding, other than just examining your “bite”. A series of x-rays of the mouth will be needed to determine the intensity of the bruxism and the method of treatment.

Teeth Grinding Treatment

The treatment of Bruxism is highly dependent on the cause of the disease and as such it varies:

  • Bruxism due to stress: If your bruxism is caused by stress and anxiety, your dentist will recommend either a professional counseling, psychotherapy or bio-feedback for treatment. Other strategies of treating bruxism include relaxation and meditation. You may also be given a prescribed muscle relaxant in order to prevent the spasm that occurs in the jaw. If this fails to help you, your dentist might refer an oral dental surgeon for further specialized treatment.
  • Dental Problems: If bruxism is caused due to dental problems, you would need a tooth alignment. This will be done by your dentist. In case of severe dental problems, you may also need to wear crowns or onlays to reshape those bitten surfaces of the teeth, entirely. You might also be asked by the stopped or changed.

Regardless of what the cause of your bruxism is, one of the best ways to deal with bruxism is to get a bruxism mouth guard.

Posted by crexsky   @   10 September 2011

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