Bruxism - Teeth Grinding

Ever wondered why your child is grinding his or her teeth or clenching the jaw? This habit is called bruxism, and it can result in permanent damage to teeth. The signs and symptoms of bruxism involve pain and tenderness of the jaw, headache, and worn out teeth surfaces. If you suspect you have this condition, then see a dentist at the earliest. A custom-made mouthguard can be fabricated to help relieve the symptoms.

What Is Bruxism?

Bruxism is clenching or grinding of the teeth, which is not a part of normal chewing movements. This clenching and grinding movements are not normal for the jaws. It can lead to excessive teeth wear and can cause permanent damage to the teeth and jaw joints. It can occur in adults or children, during the day or at night. Patients cannot control this habit of excessive grinding, especially when it occurs at night, as it is involuntary.

The function of three muscle groups the jaws (temporalis, masseter, and lateral pterygoid) are associated with bruxism. The force with which jaw is clenched determines the force of tooth grinding. Clenching or grinding of teeth does not occur if the individual clenches, or if the mouth is open. When the jaw is relaxed, movement occurs in a forward and backward direction and to either side.

Why Do Children Grind and Clench Their Teeth?

The common reasons are:

1. Because of having some kind of pain - either teething or earaches.

2. They might be under stress.

3. A hyperactive child.

4. Misaligned teeth.

5. Some types of allergy.

6. When they lose their deciduous teeth and gain permanent teeth.

7. Dehydration.

What Are the Causes of Bruxism in Adults?

Both physical and psychological factors contribute to bruxism. Physical stress, illness, nutritional inadequacy or malnutrition, dehydration, psychological stress, anxiety, and tension can cause bruxism. Other causes include sleep disorders, abnormal anatomy of the teeth or jaws, and high points on fillings that can cause an improper occlusion.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism?

Depending on the nature, frequency, duration, and severity of excessive clenching and grinding, the signs and symptoms include:

• Pain in the teeth.

• Tooth sensitivity to heat and cold.

• Chronic muscular facial pain with tension headaches because of intense muscle contraction.

• Clenching noise, noticed by family members or friends that occurs when teeth are ground together.

• An abnormal alignment of the teeth, caused by uneven tooth wear.

• Attrited or flattened or worn out tooth surfaces.

• Tooth fracture.

• Broken or chipped teeth.

• Loose teeth with possible damage to the tooth socket.

• Stiffness and pain in the temporomandibular joint that causes reduced opening and difficultly chewing.

• Sometimes, the jaw joint may suffer damage that is slow to heal.

• Earache or pain in the jaw joint.

People who clench their teeth lightly only get tension-related headaches and little or no damage to the teeth or jaw joint. When there is tight clenching of teeth, then there will be minimal pressure on jaw joints. Individuals experiencing severe grinding may have damaged teeth and also suffer from jaw joint problems. On the other hand, individuals with mild tooth grinding may have worn out teeth surfaces but no jaw pain or teeth sensitivity. These individuals may not even realize that they are suffering from the habit of bruxism.

How Is Bruxism Treated?

Before treatment, your dentist needs to know your medical history. Tell the dentist if you have:

- had an allergy or bad reaction to antibiotics, anesthetics, or other medicines.

- Previous treatment related to bruxism or jaw surgery.

- Psychological distress or psychiatric illness.

- Give the list of medicines you are taking or have recently taken.

Treatment of bruxism aims to:

1. Find and remove the causes of bruxism.

2. Change the behavior that causes bruxism.

3. Repair the damage that is caused by bruxism.

1) Finding and Removing the Causes of Bruxism:

Your dentist will look for local problems that are likely to lead to abnormal contact among upper and lower teeth. Your bite may need to be improved. If pain is a symptom, your dentist will look for related causes, such as an ear infection or a temporomandibular disorder. Your dentist may prescribe-

• Painkillers for muscular facial pain.

• Headaches and jaw joint pain.

• Muscle relaxant medication to help relax the jaw muscles.

In cases having general health problems, an examination by a medical practitioner, counseling, and stress management is necessary.

2) Changing Bruxism Behavior:

Therapy aims to achieve changes in behavior by educating the patient how to rest the mouth. An occlusal splint or night guard is an option for someone with mild to severe grinding behavior and is worn at night. The splint is made from a moulded plastic that fits over the upper or lower teeth. It prevents further wear of the tooth surfaces.

Biofeedback - Biofeedback techniques use electronic monitors to measure tension in the jaw muscles so that people use the monitors to learn how to relax their muscles and reduce tension.

3) Repairing Damaged Teeth:

• For damaged tooth surfaces - Dental fillings, crowns, and inlay.

• Cases with fracture extended to pulp - Root canal treatment.

• Badly damaged teeth - Extraction.

• Missing teeth replacement - Partial dentures, dental bridges, and implants.

• Orthodontic treatment can realign misplaced teeth.

Home Remedies:

Apart from mouthguards to prevent further damage to your teeth from bruxism, the following are some other helpful steps to relieve the pain. The following are some self-care steps that you can take at home.

• Facial and jaw muscle relaxation during day time.

• Neck, shoulder and face muscle massage.

• Stretching exercise targeting the head and neck area.

• Stay away from hard foods like nuts, candies or steak.

• Drink plenty of water every day.

• Reduce mental stress and learn relaxation techniques.

• Get plenty of sleep.