Your jaw hurts when you open your mouth. The inside of your cheek may be chewed and raw. Your head hurts and, overall, you’re miserable.
You may be suffering from bruxism. So what is bruxism? It is a clenching, grinding, or gnashing of your teeth that happens subconsciously and is often caused by anxiety, stress, sleep issues, or medications. It can also have serious implications on your overall oral health.
In this article, we will dive into the answer to the question “what is teeth grinding?” by breaking down the symptoms of bruxism, as well as its effects and causes, and how to manage it.
Symptoms of Bruxism
Bruxism is a common condition, affecting approximately 15 to 40 percent of children and 8 to 10 percent of adults. Grinding teeth in your sleep peaks in childhood and then declines with age. People often aren’t aware that they have bruxism because they may not have symptoms at first or are too young to identify them. It isn’t until the symptoms interfere with sleep, wear down teeth, or cause jaw pain that a diagnosis is made.
Keep in mind that many people only grind their teeth during sleep. This means they have no idea they are doing it. But they do feel the effects eventually, which causes most people to investigate what’s going on. Here are some symptoms that are indicative of grinding or clenching at night:
- Headaches, especially in the morning.
- Facial pain, also in the morning.
- Earaches.
- Sore jaw muscles.
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears).
- Pain when eating.
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
- Tooth sensitivity.
Your dentist will carry out a thorough oral exam and discuss your symptoms to diagnose bruxism. You may need a sleep study (polysomnography), which is an overnight test done in a sleep center.
Once you have a diagnosis, they can help you deal with the outcome.
Effects of Teeth Grinding
Grinding or clenching your teeth can put 250 pounds of force on your jaw. This kind of power can lead to serious problems, like fractured teeth. Those teeth will then need crowns or need to be replaced by dental implants. The enamel on your teeth can also be worn away by grinding, exposing the tender inner portion of the teeth. This leads to periodontal disease that requires expensive, time-consuming dental work. Sometimes teeth simply fall out.
The force placed on your teeth and jaws also causes chronic headaches and pain in the neck and ears. Some people suffer from migraines, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and a general heightened sensitivity to noise. In some cases, bruxism isn’t diagnosed as the cause of headaches at first. It often takes time to identify it, since the sufferer is usually sleeping when the damage is being done. They have no awareness of grinding and clenching their teeth and jaws during the night.
So, why does this happen? Read on for the answer!
Causes Of Teeth Grinding
Grinding your teeth can be caused by several factors, and very often, it’s more than one factor in an individual’s life that leads to this condition.
It’s important to note here, too, that there are two types of bruxism: sleep bruxism and awake bruxism. The grinding action is the same, but they are two separate conditions. Grinding or clenching when you’re awake can be controlled more easily because you are aware that you are doing it.
Sleep bruxism must be treated to manage the effects of the grinding because you’re essentially unconscious when it’s happening. The effects of sleep bruxism can cause more harm because it takes time to identify it and the negative effects may be damaging by that time.
There isn’t a definitive answer to why some people grind their teeth and others don’t, but there are usually several risk factors at work. These include:
Stress, Mood, Distress, Nervousness, and Depression
Stress in your life is a major factor in the development of bruxism. If you have depression or anxiety disorders, like major depressive disorder (MDD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), you’re even more liable to develop bruxism.
Genetics
Data shows sleep bruxism has a genetic component and often runs in families. Discuss this with family members if you’re not sure if others suffer from it, too.
Drinking Alcohol or Caffeine and Smoking
The statistics are clear: If you smoke, drink alcohol, and drink more than six cups of coffee a day your chances of grinding your teeth are double those of people who don’t.
Certain Medications
Prescription drugs used to treat depression, seizures, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been shown to cause bruxism. Anti-anxiety drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often also a culprit. Check with your doctor if you take any drugs for these conditions and begin grinding your teeth.
Sleep Apnea
There is no definitive answer to which comes first, sleep apnea or teeth grinding. But many people do have both and studies continue to unravel the relationship between teeth grinding and sleep disorders.
So, if it’s determined you have bruxism, what can you do about it?
Treatment for Teeth Grinding
If you have been diagnosed with bruxism, what’s next? Can it be treated? Can you be “cured”?
All good questions if you suffer from this condition. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may not need formal treatment. In severe cases, though, your dentist might recommend one or more of the following treatments for teeth grinding:
Mouth Guard
Your dentist can make a mouth guard for you that will protect your teeth when you are most likely to grind or clench. It can also place your jaw in a more favorable position. This will lessen the strain on the jaw muscles.
Stress Management
Your dentist may refer you to a stress reduction therapist. You can learn how to better manage stress through techniques like exercise, behavior therapy, or meditation.
Lifestyle Changes
Eliminating smoking and over-consumption of alcohol and caffeine will help not only your bruxism but your overall health. You will also have better sleep.
Medication
You may be prescribed a short-term muscle relaxant before bedtime. This is usually only tried if other treatments haven’t helped.
Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injections
The use of Botox® is recommended only in severe cases. The goal of the injections is to allow your jaw muscles to relax, which reduces pain. This treatment is repeated approximately every three to four months.
There IS Help for Teeth Grinding and Clenching
Bruxism, the technical term for teeth grinding and clenching, is often difficult to diagnose. Many people grind and clench when they are asleep, so they aren’t aware of what is causing their headaches, jaw and facial soreness, and damage to their tooth enamel. Once diagnosed, however, there are several management techniques the dentist can recommend, from relaxation and stress management programs to medications.
Don’t let teeth grinding steal your smile. Schedule a consultation with us here at Wilmington Dental Associates today and discover how our expert team can help you find relief from teeth grinding, prevent further damage, and restore your oral health. Your journey to a healthier, happier smile starts here.
Contact us today with any questions you may have or to schedule an appointment!