What is bruxism?

“Bruxism” is the grinding or clenching of teeth outside periods of chewing or swallowing. It can occur day and night but grinding is dominant during sleep. Bruxism is a problem that affects both adults and children. Although the exact causes of it are not known, anxiety and stress during the day could accentuate its onset. During sleep, there would be excessive activation of breathing and heart rhythm associated with a regular sleep pattern. This phenomenon could trigger nocturnal bruxism.

The treatment of bruxism

To date, there is no solution to act on the cause of bruxism. The proposed treatments therefore aim to reduce tooth friction to limit their harmful effects. Initially, your dentist will take the time to properly assess your dental condition through an examination but he will also ask you about your lifestyle habits. It is important to understand that some people have temporary episodes of bruxism triggered by a passed situation or event. For example, a more stressful period due to a school exam period or divorce. Indeed, some people will occasionally suffer from bruxism and subsequently everything will return to normal. In this case, these few tips will often be enough to help them during this unpleasant period:

• Application of heat to muscles and joints of the face (example with a magic bag)
• Massage of facial muscles to relax them with circular movements
• Avoid chewing gum or other substances for long periods at a time
• Avoid opening your mouth too wide
• Avoid foods that are difficult to chew
• If necessary, your dentist will prescribe a muscle relaxant to reduce muscle stress
• If necessary, your dentist will prescribe a medication to reduce pain and inflammation

In the event that bruxism is chronic (which often happens), it will then be necessary to opt in addition to the measures mentioned above to wear a device called: The occlusal plate or night guard.

How do I know if I’m doing bruxism?

For many people, bruxism is an unconscious habit. They don’t even realize what they’re doing until someone tells them that they make a horrible noise with their teeth while they sleep. During the night, a person with bruxism can rub his teeth 6 to 8 minutes in a row!!! Several symptoms can tell you that you suffer from this disorder:

• You feel muscle tension
• Wake up with migraines
• You feel pain in your facial joints
• Congestion of the ears
• You have a limitation when opening your mouth
• You feel tired when you wake up
• You have noticed an increase in the volume of the jaw muscles

When it is chronic, the grinding of the teeth causes serious damage to the teeth and the jaw. The consequences on teeth are wear, which can reach the nerves and even cause them to fracture. Indeed, bruxism causes abnormal wear of the teeth (very sharp, cracked or fractured side) as well as breakage in fillings, crowns or dentures. You will also notice increased sensitivity to acidic or sweet foods and temperature changes.