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Bruxism is defined as excessive, involuntarily, and subconscious or unconscious teeth grinding and clenching.
Nocturnal bruxism, or sleep bruxism, occurs when people grind their teeth or clench their jaws a lot while sleeping. Diurnal, or awake, bruxism occurs when someone grinds their teeth or clenches their jaw too much during the day while awake.
Researchers don’t fully understand why bruxism occurs. But nocturnal bruxism may begin as a disturbance in the central nervous system (CNS) while sleeping. Several factors may increase the risk of developing bruxism.
Risk factors for bruxism include:
Many people don’t realize they’re grinding their teeth or clenching their jaws, especially while sleeping.
But most people with bruxism experience certain symptoms, such as:
There are several things you can do to help reduce or stop bruxism. Common treatment options for bruxism include:
A night guard or mouth guard can help protect your teeth, jaw, tongue, gums, and cheeks from teeth grinding. They help cushion the force generated by teeth grinding or clenching. You use a night guard while sleeping and a mouth guard during the day.
Over-the-counter (OTC) night guards and mouth guards are usually plastic. Boil-and-bite OTC mouth guards are shaped by placing them in boiling water, biting down on them, and then running them under cool water.
A dentist can also make you a custom night guard or bite guard using a mold of your teeth.
Custom-fit guards tend to be more effective and better fit the shape and size of your jaw.
Fixing crooked or misaligned teeth, or reshaping their chewing surfaces, can help reduce bruxism damage. If you have uneven or missing teeth, placing crowns on them or getting dental implants can also help limit teeth grinding.
Psychotherapy, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), helps manage depression and emotional issues like stress and anxiety. Psychotherapy may also help people become more aware of when they’re grinding their teeth or clenching their jaws.
Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation, guided visualization, yoga, or Tai Chi can help manage stress, anxiety, and depression.
In severe cases where other treatments aren’t effective, your doctor may prescribe medications to treat bruxism, such as:
Most people only take medications to treat bruxism for a short time.
Being physically active is an excellent way to reduce stress levels. Some of the most popular stress-relieving activities include walking or jogging, biking, swimming, or dancing.
Some physical therapists teach jaw muscle and facial exercises to reduce bruxism and its symptoms. Behavioral therapy can help you learn how to rest your teeth, tongue, and lips properly to reduce jaw discomfort.
Botulinum toxin A, or Botox, is a neurotoxin made by bacteria. Botox toxins block muscle contractions, which might improve bruxism if injected into the jaw muscles.
Biofeedback can identify when there is too much activity in your jaw by using an electromyography (EMG) monitor. This tool helps you notice when you’re grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. It also encourages you to consciously relax your jaw muscles.
Treating conditions such as GERD, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and sleep disorders like sleep apnea may help treat bruxism.
If your bruxism is related to taking a specific medication, a doctor may prescribe an alternative medication. Or, they might advise you on how to stop taking the medication.
People who smoke and drink are twice as likely to develop bruxism.1 Avoiding alcohol and/or quitting smoking may help reduce bruxism.
Limiting your caffeine intake can also relieve bruxism. Common sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. You can also help reduce bruxism by not chewing gum or non-food items like pens and pencils.
Don’t use illegal stimulant drugs like ecstasy and cocaine. These increase teeth clenching, are bad for your overall health, and can lead to addiction. Also, try to avoid sleeping on your stomach. This sleep position can worsen teeth grinding and clenching.
Talk to your dentist if you have:
Talk to a dentist if you notice your child is grinding their teeth or clenching their jaw regularly.
According to Dr. Nandita Lilly, one of NewMouth’s in-house resident dentists, “the primary goals of treating bruxism are to alleviate pain, prevent tooth damage, and improve sleep. A sleep study is indicated to determine if there are underlying airway issues.”
If bruxism occurs long-term, you may experience several complications. Oral health complications and other adverse health effects associated with chronic bruxism include:
Bruxism refers to excessive, subconscious, or unconscious teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
The outlook for most people with bruxism is good. Many children outgrow the habit by the time they’re adolescents. Adults that wear night guards or bite guards regularly, or follow other treatment plans like managing stress and anxiety, also tend to reduce teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
Treating or managing bruxism can also help reduce the risk or severity of complications, like jaw or teeth damage and disorders.
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