Bruxism is a medical condition where a person is prone to habitually grinding or clenching their teeth, either consciously or subconsciously. Teeth grinding is often the result of anxiety and stress, and is generally harmless if occasional, but it can cause tooth damage and various other oral health problems if it occurs regularly. The more likely causes however include crooked or missing teeth, or an abnormal bite, or a side-effect of sleep apnea.
How Can You Discover If You Have Bruxism?
Since bruxism tends to occur at night, when you are asleep, which is why most people are often unaware of the condition. The most common symptoms of teeth grinding when asleep include a sore jaw and a constant, dull headache. Often enough, people discover this condition only when their loved ones hear it at night, and inform them. If you discover that you grind your teeth during the night, you can have your bruxism treated in Derby from a private cosmetic clinic.
The Causes of Bruxism
The causes of bruxism are not always clear, but there are several factors which can contribute to its occurrence:
- Ability, or Inability, to Relax
- Alcohol and Caffeine Intake
- Amount of Daily Stress Experienced
- Misaligned Teeth
- Posture
- Sleeping Habits
- Smoking Habits
- Habitual Clenching or Grinding of Teeth when Awake
The Symptoms of Bruxism
The symptoms of bruxism may differ from person to person, depending on the severity of their condition, but most of them common to most cases, and are usually the result of pressure on the jaw muscles. They include:- Anxiety and Stress
- Depression
- Eating Disorders and Difficulty
- Headache
- Insomnia and Disturbed Sleep
- Pain in the Neck
- Pain or Soreness in the Jaw
- Referred Pain in the Ear
- Ringing in the Ear [Tinnitus]
- Oral Health Problems, including Loose Teeth, Receding Gums, and Sensitivity to Hot and Cold Food and Drinks
The Complications from Bruxism
Nocturnal Bruxism is experienced by an estimated 5 to 20% adults, and nearly 30% children. If chronic, teeth grinding can cause loss of teeth, or fractured or loose teeth. It may also wear your teeth down to stumps. In such events, you may require root canals, crowns, implants, bridges, or partial and maybe even complete dentures.
In severe cases, bruxism may lead to TMJ problems, enlarged masseter muscles, sleep and eating disorders, depression, and a range of oral health problems.
The Precautions against Bruxism
One way to protect your teeth when asleep is to have a mouth guard fitted in by your dentist, but it is often more effective to target the underlying cause and attempt to eliminate it. Stress is a rather common factor behind bruxism, so try to reduce stress possible. Other precautions and measures you can take against teeth grinding include:
- Avoid, or at least cut back on, food and drinks which contain caffeine, including tea, coffee, and chocolates.
- Avoid alcohol - its consumption leads to an intensification of teeth grinding.
- Avoid chewing gum - it leads to your jaw muscles becoming used to clenching.
- Train your conscious self to avoid teeth clenching and grinding, and your jaw muscles to relax.
- Hold a warm washcloth in front of your earlobes and against your cheek to relax your jaw muscles at night.
- If you suffer from any sleeping disorders, have them treated immediately as they maybe the underlying cause of your bruxism.
The Treatment for Bruxism
Chronic cases of bruxism can be effectively and successfully treated by cosmetic doctors in Derby with a relatively painless Botox treatment. The jaw muscles are relaxed through the use of Botox injections, which helps prevent clenching movements, and break the habit of teeth grinding. The procedure can be performed in a doctor’s office without any need for hospitalization, and is available at a range of private, cosmetic clinics in Derby and elsewhere across the United Kingdom.
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