About Bruxism (aka: Teeth Grinding and Jaw Clenching)
Do you clench your jaws when you become stressed out or angry? A good number of people do, but some people also clench, and others move their jaw forward. Some people grind their teeth repeatedly without even realizing they are doing it, ofttimes in their sleep. When these occurrences become habits, it is a condition we refer to as bruxism.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE BRUXISM?
Signs to watch out for include the following:
A stiff jaw or pain in the jaw
wear patterns on your teeth noticed by your dentist
Headaches when you awake or late in the evening
Sensitivity to temperatures with your teeth.
Tongue indentations left by teeth at night
Restless sleep
Fatigue during the day from little sleep
Difficulty falling to sleep
WHO IS AT RISK FOR BRUXISM?
Children and adults suffer from bruxism and can be developed at either age. Nighttime bruxism can develop as early as early childhood, but it is found with more prevalence at the ages of 10 through 14 years. Daytime bruxism is more common in adults.
WHAT CAUSES BRUXISM?
We wish we knew the answer to this question. Studies have found some common links among people with this habit. Daytime bruxism seems to be strongly linked to emotional distress. Also, many people with nighttime bruxism also have breathing difficulties when they are asleep: like snoring or interrupted breathing. To be more precise, more than 50% of the children in 1 study with interrupted breathing also had nighttime bruxism.
Several medications also can trigger bruxism. Also drinking beverages with caffeine and nicotine use have also been shown to increase the risk of developing a grinding or clenching habit.
CAN BRUXISM CAUSE DAMAGE?
Bruxism is definitely hard on your teeth and your muscles/joints. Studies have been shown that during episodes of bruxism people can exhibit forces 6 times greater than normal forces. This can do damage to both soft and hard tissues, especially when repeated.
The damage done to your teeth can start with surface cracks and range all the way to broken teeth or arthritis in the jaws. This can result in tooth and jaw pain. In worst case scenarios, teeth can be lost as a result of being under constant loads of stress. The stress from bruxism also can damage the tissues that support the teeth, causing teeth to become loose.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Talk to Dr. Chamberlain if you think you are experiencing bruxism. He may suggest the following:
Taking muscle relaxers or shots that can help reduce muscle fatigue
Speaking with your physician about medications you take to see if they might be contributing to the problem.
Dr. Chamberlain also may suggest the use of a mouth guard to help protect your teeth. He can also make a idividually customized plastic tray that fits over your top or bottom teeth for protection of both joints and teeth alike.
CONCLUSION
Bruxism is the habit habit that is ofttimes unavoidable and very common. It can create headaches and muscle pain and cause damage to your teeth and soft tissues. Talk to Dr. Chamberlain about ways to help identify and treat bruxism.
