What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is defined as the grinding or clenching of the teeth. People who experience this are often not aware of this. Many people who suffer from Bruxism are not aware that they even have it Bruxism has affected almost 30 to 40 million people in the United States, both children and adults.
Some children and adults only suffer from bruxism during the nighttime, grinding their teeth during their sleep. Others involuntary grind their teeth during the day.
Wearing a mouthguard for bruxism is one of the best ways to prevent the grinding of teeth at night. A mouth guard for bruxism is a wonderful tool for anyone who grinds their teeth at night.
Bruxism is related to stress and anxiety.
Symptoms of Bruxism
Do you suffer from bruxism? Check if you have been experiencing any of the symptoms noted below:
- Tightening of the jaws
- Sounds of grinding during sleep.
- Unexplained headaches in the morning
- Tightening or pain of the jaw muscles during the morning.
- Long lasting facial pain.
- Worn down teeth, breaking of dental fillings, injured gums.
- Pain in the jaw joints.
How to Diagnosis Bruxism
If you have been experiencing any of the above mentioned dental problems, you should see a dentist immediately. A dentist will be in the best position to determine if you are a teeth grinder and will suggest necessary steps after evaluating you.
A more thorough analysis may be needed if the dentist suspects any dental problems to be the primary cause of your teeth grinding. Additionally, your dentist will also examine your gums and teeth to locate any damage caused by teeth grinding, other than just examining your “bite”. A series of x-rays of the mouth will be needed to determine the intensity of the bruxism and the method of treatment.
Bruxism Treatment
The treatment of Bruxism is highly dependent on the cause of the disease and as such it varies:
- Bruxism due to stress: If your case is that of bruxism caused by stress and anxiety, your dentist will recommend either a professional counseling, psychotherapy or bio-feedback for treatment. Other strategies of treating bruxism include relaxation and meditation. You may also be given a prescribed muscle relaxant in order to prevent the spasm that occurs in the jaw. If this fails to help you, your dentist might refer an oral dental surgeon for further specialized treatment.
- Dental Problems: If you bruxism is caused by dental problems, then you may need a tooth alignment This will be done by your dentist. In case of severe dental problems, you may also need to wear crowns or onlays to reshape those bitten surfaces of the teeth, entirely. You might also be asked by the stopped or changed.
Regardless of what the cause of your bruxism is, one of the best ways to deal with bruxism is to get a mouth guard for bruxism
