About Bruxism

If you regularly grind your teeth, you have probably have bruxism.You may clench your teeth during the day or grind them involuntarily in your sleep. In both cases, you could be at risk for jaw disorders, damaged teeth or headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic. SleepChannel.com estimates that between 5 to 20 percent of adults and even a higher percentage of children suffer from bruxism.

Causes

• The causes of bruxism are not well understood. Doctors believe that a combination of both physical and psychological factors can cause this condition. Emotions like anxiety, stress, suppressed anger or frustration can cause involuntary teeth grinding particularly during sleep. However, some cases of bruxism may be a result of physical causes like an abnormal alignment or malocclusion of the teeth. It can even be a symptom of a serious disease like Huntington's, though this is rare. In children, bruxism can be a response to the pain of an ear infection or teething.

Symptoms

• Most often, your dentist can tell if you have bruxism by examining your molars for characteristic wear. Your teeth may be worn down or the enamel may be gone. This can cause your teeth to be more sensitive. Another characteristic symptom of bruxism is pain in your jaw or ear that comes from the grinding motion. This can lead to a condition called Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) syndrome, where the muscles of the jaw are irritated or spasm from the clenching and grinding motions. Headaches that can't be attributed to other causes may be a result of bruxism.

Dental Treatment

• Your dentist may suggest that you be fitted with a night guard, a plastic appliance that you wear at night to protect your teeth. This is custom fitted to your teeth during a dental visit and can be expensive. Less expensive night guards are also sold at drug stores. If the pain in your jaw muscles from bruxism is severe, your dentist may even prescribe a muscle relaxant.

At-home Treatment

• If you suspect that bruxism is caused by tension, you may wish to try stress management techniques or even behavior modification. If your jaw is very tight, you can apply hot compresses to relax the tissue or use gentle massage. Reducing the stress in your life may reduce the frequency of teeth grinding or stop it altogether.

Complications

• If you suspect you have bruxism, you should not delay treatment. Left untreated, it can result in permanent damage to your teeth and chronic jaw pain. If the noise of your teeth grinding is particularly loud, it may also interfere with a sleep partner's quality of rest.