What is Bruxism? Teeth Grinding Treatment
Contents
What is Bruxism?
What are the Symptoms of Clenching While Sleeping?
What are the Causes of Clenching While Awake?
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
What Are the Symptoms of Bruxism?
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Bruxism?
How is Bruxism Diagnosed?
Bruxism Treatment
What Is Done To Prevent Bruxism?
Does Bruxism Cause Tinnitus?
Is Bruxism Hereditary?
Bruxism and COVID-19
Bruxism is a disease that includes situations in which people press their teeth together and clenched or grind. Bruxism, which can be seen while asleep or awake, is also grouped under two headings as primary bruxism and secondary bruxism. Bruxism treatment varies according to the person’s symptoms, the severity of the disease and the underlying cause. It is important to recognize bruxism and plan its treatment with appropriate methods, as it can cause serious problems in the long run.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism refers to clenching or grinding of the teeth other than chewing. While it often occurs during sleep, bruxism can also be seen when awake. Often, many people are unaware that they are clenching or grinding their teeth. Teeth grinding is the rubbing and chewing of teeth. Clenching is when the teeth are held together tightly and the muscles remain contracted without back and forth movement. Clenching may occur day or night. There are major differences between bruxism seen during sleep and bruxism seen while awake. Bruxism can cause facial and jaw pain, jaw stiffness, stiffness and headaches. In the long term, grinding of the teeth can cause limitation of movement in the jaw joints, and tooth and gum disorders. Treatment planned by the dentist usually involves the use of a clencher, mouth guard, or splint. The aim is to prevent damage to the teeth and to eliminate the factors that cause bruxism. These factors include mainly sleep apnea, intense stress and certain medications.
What are the Symptoms of Clenching While Sleeping?
Sleep bruxism is a type of sleep disorder. People may notice some symptoms while awake. Symptoms include facial and jaw pain, limitation of jaw movements and stiffness of the jaw, clicking or popping-like sound in jaw movements, blunt headache, tooth damage and wear, broken or embedded fillings, damage to the joint responsible for opening and closing movements in the jaw (temporomandibular joint). There are earaches. Severe and persistent pain can make it difficult to identify the source of the pain. While people with bruxism may not notice the signs of teeth grinding or clenching during sleep, people next to them may notice the grinding sound.
What are the Causes of Clenching While Awake?
Awake bruxism is not a sleep disorder and differs from sleep bruxism. Bruxism, seen in the waking state, is an unconscious habit. Bruxism, which is usually seen while awake, does not cause teeth grinding; however, clenching and tension in the jaw joints and muscles are severe. Pain, headache and stiffness in and around the jaw are among the common symptoms. The common feature in sleep and wakefulness bruxism is the involuntary occurrence of both. Under intense stress and in concentration, the risk of bruxism is high.
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
There are multiple factors associated with bruxism, and often a single, definitive cause cannot be found. There are factors that vary according to the type of bruxism. Types of bruxism are divided into two titles as primary and secondary bruxism. There is no other underlying cause in primary bruxism and it occurs spontaneously. The most common factors in primary bruxism can be listed as follows.
Growth of Teeth: Bruxism is common in young children and teenagers and is usually caused by growing teeth. Since the growth of teeth and jaw is rapid during childhood, bruxism does not usually cause permanent problems and the recovery period is short.
Misalignment of the Bite: Numerous missing teeth and improperly aligned bites can cause bruxism. Inappropriate bites, which can cause irritation to the teeth and gums, are the main causes of teeth grinding and clenching.
Stress: Stress is the most common major factor among all causes of bruxism in sleep or wakefulness. The relationship between stress and bruxism has not been fully elucidated.
Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption: The risk of bruxism is approximately twice as high in people who regularly consume cigarettes or alcohol. Consumption of more than 8 cups of coffee per day increases the risk of bruxism one and a half times. Drug use is also closely related to bruxism.
In secondary bruxism, there is an underlying cause. It is seen as a result of a medical or non-medical condition. Factors affecting secondary bruxism can be:
Associated with Mental Health: Anxiety and depression have been found to be closely related to bruxism. This relationship can also be explained by stress. The risk of bruxism is increased in individuals with aggressive, competitive and hyperactive personalities.
Associated with Neurological Conditions: Since diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, and epilepsy may cause mobility during sleep, the possibility of bruxism has increased.
Associated with Drugs: It may be possible to see bruxism as a side effect with some antidepressants or antipsychotics.
Associated with Sleep Apnea and Snoring: The temporary cessation of breathing during sleep is called sleep apnea. Frequent awakenings are seen in sleep apnea, and sleep quality and quality of life are seriously reduced. This significantly increases the risk of bruxism. It can also cause sleep apnea, teeth grinding, and clenching of the teeth and jaw.
What Are the Symptoms of Bruxism?
Bruxism gives different symptoms with age, personality traits and in association with different diseases. The main signs and symptoms of bruxism are listed below.
Grinding and clenching in the jaw, severe enough to wake those around
Carved, broken, chipped, displaced teeth
Severe wear from tooth enamel
severe toothache and tenderness
Locked jaw joints with tense and limited range of motion
Neck, jaw and face pain
Earache or radiating pain in the ear
Blunt headache that may involve temples
Irritation of cheeks and gums
Sleeping disorders
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Bruxism?
Bruxism can cause mild or severe damage in the long run. Some of these damages can be listed as follows.
Tooth sensitivity due to wear and irritation of tooth enamel
Gingivitis and bleeding gums
Loose teeth and permanent loss of teeth
Damage to the dental filling
Teeth with flattened tips, short or broken teeth
Temporomandibular joint syndrome causing severe pain, tension, limitation of movement and difficulty in chewing
How is Bruxism Diagnosed?
Bruxism can be diagnosed with a comprehensive physical examination performed by the dentist. Worn enamel, broken and chipped teeth, enlarged jaw muscles can guide the diagnosis. Tooth abrasions can also be caused by excessive and uncontrolled brushing, abrasives in toothpaste, acidic, alcoholic beverages and sweeteners. An experienced and expert dentist is needed for the distinction.
Bruxism Treatment
Bruxism treatment varies according to the patient’s expectation, the type of bruxism and the severity of the disease. There are many treatment strategies available today. Bruxism treatment methods can be listed as follows:
Teeth Clamping Apparatus, Mouth Splint (Night Plaque): These treatment methods are used to keep the teeth apart in order to prevent damage caused by clenching and grinding in the teeth and jaw joint. They are designed for upper and lower teeth and can be produced from hard acrylic or soft plastic material.
Drug Treatment: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be preferred, upon the recommendation of the dentist, to relieve pain or swelling associated with bruxism. In some cases, drug therapy may also be recommended to relax the muscle. Thus, the jaw muscles are rested and tension is reduced. This provides relief in symptoms.
Biofeedback Therapy: Biofeedback is a type of therapy that aims to teach the control of functions with involuntary control mechanisms in the body, such as breathing and heart rate. There is insufficient evidence for biofeedback therapy; however, there are studies showing cases showing improvement in symptoms.
Botox: In severe cases of bruxism, botox injections can paralyze the muscles that cause sleep bruxism and prevent teeth grinding. Botox is not among the most preferred treatment methods because it does not create a permanent solution, requires repeated doses and is not an economical option.
Treatment for the Underlying Cause: Usually, the treatment of mental health disorder is effective in the treatment of bruxism. Talking therapies and drug combinations are often recommended. In other health problems such as sleep apnea, the treatment of the problem is the key factor in the treatment of bruxism. For example, using a continuous positive airway pressure machine to prevent sleep interruptions in a person with sleep apnea can be given.
What Is Done To Prevent Bruxism?
Some of the recommended methods to prevent bruxism are listed below.
Avoiding alcohol, smoking and caffeine as much as possible
Avoiding chewing gum to prevent wear on teeth and jaw joints
Applying gentle heat to relieve severe pain and muscle contractions
Reducing stress or trying ways to manage stress
Do not hesitate to get support when necessary
relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises
The only effective way to prevent bruxism from other medical conditions such as reflux, sleep apnea or epilepsy is to treat the underlying disease or plan treatment to alleviate its symptoms.
Does Bruxism Cause Tinnitus?
It may be possible for bruxism to cause tinnitus. The temporomandibular (jaw joint) joint is very close to the ear and tinnitus may occur with damage to this joint.
Is Bruxism Hereditary?
There are studies showing that there may be familial transmission in bruxism. However, a gene responsible for hereditary transmission has not yet been identified. Familial transmission is more likely in sleep-related bruxism. If there is a family history of bruxism or a history of bruxism, other family members may be affected.
Bruxism and COVID-19
In some of the studies, it has been shown that the stress and anxiety associated with being constantly at risk of disease caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic concerns and isolation from social life and environment may increase the incidence of bruxism together with temporomandibular joint disorders. While the rate of teeth grinding during sleep at night after the pandemic increased by 3 times, the severity of symptoms in general increased by an average of 15 percent.
If you suspect that you or someone close to you has a clenching or grinding problem, you can get support by applying to the nearest health institution.