About this topic
Bruxism is a condition when you grind or clench your teeth. This may happen when you sleep or are under stress. Bruxism may happen alone. This is primary bruxism. It may also happen with other conditions like low mood, anxiety, or as a result of drugs. This is secondary bruxism. ‚
There are two types of bruxism: ‚
- Awake bruxism ¢ ˆ ’ When you clench your teeth and jaw while you are awake
- Sleep bruxism ¢ ˆ ’ When you grind your teeth and jaw muscles while you sleep. You may not even know that you do this. Your dentist can see it as teeth become chipped or worn down. Bruxism can cause headaches, jaw pain, tooth pain, and earaches.
This condition can be treated by: ‚
- Wearing a mouth device or bite guard at night to protect your teeth
- Using relaxation methods to lower stress
- Counseling and therapy
What are the causes?
- Stress and anxiety
- Low mood
- Imperfect bite or misaligned teeth
- Lifestyle factors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and using recreational drugs like cocaine and ecstasy
- Certain drugs like antidepressants
- Obstructive sleep apnea
What are the main signs?
You may: ‚
- Grind or clench your teeth
- Have pain or muscle tightness in your jaw or jaw muscles
- Have pain in your face that does not go away
- Notice your gums are sensitive
- Have an earache or headache
- Injure your cheek from chewing on it
Your teeth may: ‚
- Become flattened, broken, or chipped
- Look smaller or shorter
- Be more sensitive
- Cause an indentation on your tongue
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
During your dental check up, your dentist will check for signs of bruxism such as: ‚
- Unusual wear and tear on your teeth
- Damage of dental restorations like lost crowns
- Tooth fractures
- Teeth that become too sensitive
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
This condition can be treated by: ‚
- Treating the health problem that might be causing bruxism
- Wearing a mouth device or bite guard to protect your teeth
- Learning ways to help you relax and lower stress. These may help to break your teeth grinding or clenching habit.
- Therapy and behavior modification
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Relieve tooth and jaw pain
- Relax the jaw muscles
What problems could happen?
- Teeth get worn down, break, or chip
- The joint at the jaw becomes inflamed from the muscle activity
Helpful tips
To lower pain caused by bruxism: ‚
- Eat soft foods to lessen the pain in your jaw.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over painful part of jaw. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on for more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Avoid intense movements of your jaw like wide yawning, loud singing, and gum chewing.
- Practice gentle jaw stretching and relaxing methods to increase jaw movement.
- Seek therapy to address any stressors that are affecting your mental health and wellbeing.
- Keep your teeth slightly apart to avoid stress on your jaw.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/teeth/bruxism.html ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/teeth-grinding/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
The Bruxism Association ‚
http://www.bruxism.org.uk/what-is-bruxism.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚