Bruxism

Bruxism or teeth grinding is a condition in which the chewing muscles begin to actively contract, which leads to grinding of the teeth.

Muscle contraction can last from a few seconds to several minutes, and a person's heartbeat and breathing may be disrupted, and blood pressure may rise or fall.

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Causes bruxism

Doctors believe that the main cause of the disease is severe nervous tension or stress.

There are currently some disagreements about the causes of bruxism. Night forms of the disease occur as a result of increased tone of the masticatory muscle, so the main cause of this phenomenon is considered to be a strong nervous shock, overexertion or a constant irritant. In other words, in sleep, a person does not control the facial muscles, so the contraction occurs involuntarily. According to experts, this is the reason why the night form of bruxism is much more common than the daytime one.

Other causes of the disease include malocclusion, missing teeth, difficulty getting used to dentures or braces, and poorly filled teeth.

Dentists are confident that there is a direct connection between dentures and the occurrence of bruxism, but in any case, at the first signs of the disease, you should consult a specialist, determine the cause of the grinding and undergo the necessary course of treatment.

It is also worth noting that there is another reason why bruxism may occur. It has long been believed that nighttime teeth grinding, especially in children, indicates infection with worms, but there is no scientifically proven data to support this. But some experts believe that such an opinion is not without meaning, since when infected with parasites, the body experiences a deficiency of vitamins, especially group B, which support the normal functioning of the nervous system. In this regard, helminths can lead to exhaustion of the nervous system, which will provoke the development of the disease.

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Symptoms bruxism

Bruxism can occur at any age, but the disease is more common in children (approximately 50% of cases).

Usually there is a nocturnal form of the disease, in which a person, especially a lonely one, may not suspect the disorder for years, since muscle contraction occurs during sleep and the person simply does not remember it.

In the daytime form, a person usually notices the manifestation of the disease and tries to control himself independently.

Grinding teeth, day or night, negatively affects the condition of the dental system. Over time, the gums or jaw joints become inflamed and begin to hurt, causing discomfort.

Teeth grinding occurs periodically. During night attacks, two or more contractions of the chewing muscles may occur. According to statistics, up to 15% of the population suffers from bruxism.

The main symptom of bruxism is teeth grinding. However, with the nocturnal form of the disease, a person may not suspect the pathology for years, since grinding occurs involuntarily and is not controlled, only a stranger can tell about the symptom.

But there are also some other symptoms and sensations that may indicate bruxism. First of all, this is the appearance of pain (in the temporomandibular joints, shoulders, back, neck, ears, paranasal sinuses, headaches), dizziness, the appearance of ringing in the ears, daytime sleepiness, depressive disorders, stress and nervous tension, especially long-term.

Naturally, all these symptoms are not 100% confirmation of the disease, however, if they appear, you should consult a specialist, especially in case of increased wear of tooth enamel, loose teeth, or changes in bite.

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Forms

Nocturnal bruxism

Grinding teeth at night can last for several seconds or minutes, but such attacks can be repeated several times during the night. Attacks usually begin suddenly, but a person does not feel it. Bruxism is diagnosed by a dentist based on the clinical picture and anamnesis. Grinding teeth is not the only sign of bruxism; the disease also causes pain in the muscles and joints of the jaw, which can intensify in the morning. The dentist can also record enamel wear on the teeth, inflammation in the periodontal tissues, which is associated with trauma to the teeth and periodontal tissues of the jaw when the teeth are closed.

To clarify the diagnosis, a specialist may prescribe a polysomnographic study, which will also help to exclude epilepsy, since nighttime teeth grinding can be a sign of epileptic bruxism, which requires completely different approaches to treatment.

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Bruxism in adults

Bruxism in adults usually develops after strong emotional shocks, for example, the death of a loved one, a difficult breakup, a loss, etc. Often the disease appears after multiple dental procedures (restoration, crowns, etc.), so at first patients are recommended to wear special protective mouth guards at night.

Chronic bruxism develops with constant stress, which leads to tooth decay, gum inflammation, and tooth enamel abrasion. The patient is also diagnosed with overload of the temporomandibular joints, which manifests itself in painful sensations. Over time, due to the disruption of the joints, a person develops severe headaches and muscle pain.

Due to the advanced stage of the process and the lack of adequate assistance, some patients attempt suicide.

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Bruxism in children

Bruxism in children occurs in 50% of cases. There is an opinion that the disease is inherited. In most cases, the disease does not lead to serious health problems and completely disappears over time.

The pathology is almost always detected by parents when characteristic creaking sounds are heard from the child's bed at night. With severe attacks of bruxism, the child may feel a severe headache or toothache in the morning, and there may be pain in the face. Such attacks should alert parents, especially if they continue for several months or years.

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Diagnostics bruxism

Bruxism is diagnosed quite simply. In the nocturnal form, a person may be informed about the disease by relatives or other close people who can hear the grinding sound (since the person himself does not feel it in his sleep).

In the daytime form, the contraction of the chewing muscles can be controlled by the person, but in any case, it requires consultation with a dentist.

In advanced forms, the disease manifests itself in severe pain in the face, mandibular and temporomandibular joints, loosening of teeth, increased sensitivity of teeth, and abrasion of tooth enamel. A person may also complain of ringing in the ears, pain in the back or neck, depressive disorders, poor appetite, insomnia, increased sensitivity of the eyes, and the appearance of a tingling sensation in the head.

To confirm the diagnosis, the specialist conducts a polysmnographic examination, which records convulsive contractions of the masticatory muscles.

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Treatment bruxism

Bruxism is quite difficult to cure, since it is necessary to establish the exact causes that provoked the disease. Treatment is aimed at relaxing the chewing muscles; orthodontic devices, drug therapy, and psychological techniques can be used for these purposes.

The treatment is carried out by a dentist, who, depending on the nature and degree of the disease, prescribes the appropriate therapy. In small children, the disease usually goes away on its own.

As a rule, the earlier the disease is detected, the more effective the treatment and the more favorable the prognosis.

An important point in the treatment of bruxism is the patient's attention to the problem.

Dentists recommend getting rid of the bad habit of grinding teeth during excitement or nervous experiences. At the first signs of excitement, you should try to minimize the movement of the chewing muscles.

In this case, various psychotherapy techniques are effective, which help to identify conflicts, understand the problem, and develop the ability to cope with difficult life situations.

The most common cause of bruxism is stress, so experts recommend soothing baths, relaxing massages, walks, reading books. In some cases, a person may be referred to a psychologist for consultation.

As a rule, such methods help to cope with the daytime form of bruxism, but with night grinding, a person is unable to control the movement of the chewing muscles, so a slightly different approach is used.

In case of night bruxism, a person needs to load the chewing muscles as much as possible during the day, i.e. "tire" the muscles. Chewing gum helps well in this case; it should be chewed for 1-2 minutes on each side until fatigue is felt (it is advisable to add a new gum every 2-3 minutes to enhance the effect). Such an exercise with chewing gum should be done several times a day, especially before bedtime.

It is important to keep the chewing muscles relaxed throughout the day and only close them when eating.

Warm compresses on the cheekbones help relieve muscle tension.

To protect teeth, experts recommend putting on special splints (mouth guards) on your teeth before going to bed, which are selected individually in each case.

In severe cases, a repositioning splint can be used, which regulates the position of the joint in the lower jaw and eliminates spasm of the muscles of the face and jaw.

If the cause of the disease is stress, then sedatives, antidepressants, drugs to improve the body's defenses, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements to strengthen the nervous system (calcium, magnesium, etc.) may be prescribed.

Bruxism, if left untreated, can lead to serious complications. To get rid of the disease, a person can use several techniques that will help reduce the tension of the jaw muscles.

Auto-training and self-control (relaxation of the chewing muscles at the first feeling of tension) help to relax well.

In addition, if there are any dental problems (bad bite, increased sensitivity of teeth, abrasion of tooth enamel, etc.), you need to see a dentist and get rid of the problems.

In case of frequent stress, it is necessary to analyze the situation, try, if not to completely eliminate the irritant, then to minimize its impact, and, if necessary, consult a psychologist.

Mouth guard for bruxism

Bruxism, especially the night form of the disease, when the contractions of the chewing muscles are involuntary, severely damages the surface of the teeth, gums, jaw joints, and changes the bite. In addition, during attacks of bruxism, the load on the joints is many times greater than the pressure they are subjected to when chewing hard foods, which causes severe pain. To reduce the load on the head of the joint, protect against degenerative changes in the jaw joints, and preserve tooth enamel, a specialist may recommend the use of a special mouth guard as part of complex therapy.

Treatment of bruxism with a mouth guard is more effective today. During sleep, the mouth guard prevents the teeth from closing during muscle spasms, which protects tooth enamel from abrasion, prevents periodontal inflammation and other problems.

In addition, the mouth guard protects orthopedic structures during attacks (often spasms are so strong that a person’s prosthesis breaks, etc.).

Another significant advantage of the mouth guard is that it prevents teeth from shifting, when constant friction causes teeth to become loose and shift.

The mouthguards are made according to an individual impression of the teeth, which is made by the dentist and transferred to the dental laboratory. The mouthguards can be made of biosilicone or bioplastic.

Some people mistakenly believe that the mouth guard helps eliminate the cause of the disease, however, the main purpose of the device is to protect teeth from damage, i.e. the mouth guard wears down, but not the teeth. Therefore, wearing a mouth guard is part of a comprehensive treatment.

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Making a mouth guard for bruxism

The mouth guard is made of special two-layer materials. The inner part of the product is soft, which provides maximum comfort to the gums, the outer part, where the teeth close during an attack, is hard, due to which the mouth guard lasts quite a long time.

This type of mouth guard is ideal for use during sleep, during uncontrolled attacks of bruxism.

Mouth guards are made individually; first, the dentist takes an impression of the patient’s jaw and sends the impression to a dental laboratory, where a mouth guard is made that best suits the characteristics of the jaw.

There are also standard mouthguards, but custom-made mouthguards are more effective, and they do not slip or fall out during sleep, and they also eliminate excessive pressure on the teeth and, as a result, displacement.

To care for the mouthguards, you need to rinse them from the inside with water every morning and clean the outside with a toothbrush. It is better to store the products in a special case, where sunlight does not penetrate, or in a glass of water.

In addition, the mouth guard must be regularly shown to the dentist, who will assess its condition and, if necessary (as the product wears out), prescribe a new one.

Treatment of bruxism with folk remedies

Bruxism is the body's response to some irritant or discomfort.

Traditional medicine is more likely aimed at preventing this condition and is associated with normalizing the emotional state and reducing nervous tension.

Traditional medicine recommends, in case of frequent stress or nervous shocks, to perform a relaxing facial massage, take a bath with essential oil or soothing herbs (chamomile, valerian, mint), or drink a soothing herbal tea.

Yoga classes are also very calming, and you can sign up for a consultation with a psychologist who will help you deal with your problems.

When daytime bruxism occurs, you need to control yourself so that the jaw compression force is minimal. You should ensure that your teeth do not touch (the only exception is chewing food).

During the day (2-3 times) you can drink herbal teas (chamomile, lemon balm, mint), which will help you calm down. Walks in the fresh air are also useful for the nervous system.

Bruxism is often caused by overstrain or fatigue of the facial muscles, so during the day you need to eat hard fruits, vegetables, nuts (especially before bed), which will help to engage the jaw muscles and tire them out. Chewing gum helps to tire the muscles well.

If bruxism is detected in a child, you should pay attention to his diet and exclude fast food, sweets, and give more raw vegetables and fruits. Instead of tea, herbal infusions of chamomile, mint, linden will also be useful for the child.

Traditional medicine also recommends using warm compresses when grinding teeth, which will relieve tension in the facial muscles. Warm compresses should be done for as long as possible. Warm herbal infusions are suitable as a warming compress, you can also use a towel soaked in plain water.

If you have bruxism, you should reduce your intake of caffeine, sweets, and foods high in carbohydrates.

Prevention

Bruxism can and does indeed happen.

As a preventative measure, it is recommended to periodically relieve stress, identify and deal with your problems.

Soothing baths and warm compresses (wet) on the lower jaw help relieve tension.

Also, to prevent bruxism, you need to learn to control your facial muscles - give them rest, load them with hard food.

Before going to bed, it is best to do something relaxing, calming, for example, instead of watching TV, you can read a book, listen to music. Before going to bed, you can eat an apple, carrot, cucumber or other hard vegetable or fruit, which will calm and at the same time tire the jaw muscles.

You should also limit your intake of caffeine, which has a stimulating effect, and reduce your intake of foods high in sugar.

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Forecast

It is quite difficult to overcome bruxism on your own; in most cases, all attempts to solve the problem are ineffective and often lead to serious consequences.

If you have a problem with teeth grinding, you should seek help from a specialist. After a comprehensive diagnosis, the dentist will prescribe effective therapy and recommend additional treatment. By following all the specialist's recommendations, it is quite possible to get rid of this pathology.

Night bruxism, from a psychological point of view, may indicate complexes on a subconscious level. Perhaps there is a certain internal attitude that a person cannot resolve in life, which causes anger, internal tension, etc. It is possible that such a reaction may arise as a result of repressed aggression. Upbringing, etiquette, accepted moral standards do not always allow a person to somehow splash out emotions, problems remain inside, are pushed deeper and deeper. But in a dream, when conscious control does not work, a person can react to internal experiences in this way.

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