By Dr. Neromini FaguThe medical term for clenching (tightly holding your top and bottom teeth together) and grinding (sliding your teeth back and forth over each other) is bruxism. Bruxism is a very common condition that affects adults as well as kids. Most people are unaware that they grind their teeth. It can happen during both the day and night and is classified into awake bruxism and sleep bruxism.Awake bruxism is the involuntary clenching of the teeth and jaw with generally no grinding. Sleep bruxism is characterized by automatic teeth grinding with sustained jaw muscles contraction.Causes of BruxismThe exact causes of bruxism are not entirely clear but certain factors can increase your risk:Stress: Increased anxiety, stress, anger and frustration can lead to teeth grinding. Some people have high levels of work-related stress and this can be a significant cause of bruxism.Age: Bruxism can affect young children, but it usually goes away by the teen years. The most common age group affected is ages 24 to 45 years.Personality type: Having a personality type that is aggressive, competitive or hyperactive can increase your risk of bruxism.Stimulating substances: Smoking tobacco and drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol can increase bruxism. Bruxism is significantly higher in individuals whose lifestyle includes the use of certain illicit substances such as ecstasy and cocaine.Medications: The side effects of certain medications such as some antidepressants and antipsychotics have been shown to increase bruxism.Malocclusion: Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth.SymptomsBruxism affects sufferers in many ways and the symptoms can be short term, long term or permanent. Some of the physical symptoms of bruxism include headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort and muscle aches, facial myalgia (muscle pain),Cheap Jerseys China, ear ache, tightness and stiffness of the shoulders, limitation of mouth opening, and sleep disruption of the individual as well as the bed partner.The oral symptoms are abnormal tooth wear, fracture of the teeth, inflammation and recession of the gums, excess tooth mobility, and premature loss of teeth. The most commonly cited area of pain is headache and it is estimated that bruxists (people who grind their teeth) are three times more likely to suffer from headaches than non-bruxists.TreatmentThe goals of treatment are to reduce pain, prevent permanent damage to the teeth, and reduce clenching as much as possible.Recommended treatments for bruxism include behavioural therapies and using mouth appliances.Other treatments, such as muscle relaxation exercises and sleep hygiene measures, may also help to manage the symptoms.Mouth guards and splints: These are usually made out of soft plastic or hard acrylic and can be custom made by your dentist to fit your mouth. They are mainly worn at night to even out the pressure across your jaw and create a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth to protect them from further damage. They can also reduce any grinding noises you make at night.Although mouth guards and splints may help reduce muscle activity in your jaw, they’re only able to control the condition, not cure it.Stress management: If you grind your teeth because of stress, you may be able to prevent the problem with professional counseling or strategies that promote relaxation, such as exercise or meditation. Listening to music, taking a warm bath or exercising can help you relax and may reduce your risk of developing bruxism.Behaviour therapy: Once you discover that you have bruxism, you may be able to change the behaviour by practising proper mouth and jaw position. Your dentist will show you the best position for your mouth and jaw.Medications: In general, medications aren’t very effective for treatment of bruxism, and more research is needed to determine their effectiveness. Examples of medications that have been tried for bruxism include muscle relaxants and Botox injections.For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected]
