What is bruxism?
Bruxism is the grinding of teeth. If you grind your teeth at night, it’s called sleep bruxism and is classified as a sleep-related movement disorder. This condition can affect around 10% of adults and 15% of children.
What causes bruxism?
While the actual cause of bruxism isn’t fully understood, there are certain factors that can increase the possibility of developing bruxism. Certain emotions like anger and frustration, along with added stress, can all increase the risk of bruxism, as can having family members with bruxism. Other health conditions, including, ADHD, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, GERD, epilepsy, night terrors, and sleep apnea, can all impact the symptoms of bruxism.
What are the symptoms of bruxism?
The signs of bruxism include:
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Poor sleep
- Jaw, neck or face pain, including tired jaw muscles or lock jaw
- Tooth pain or sensitivity
- Flattened or chipped teeth, along with worn teeth enamel
- Interior of cheek that is raw or damaged from grinding
How is bruxism diagnosed?
Your dentist will be able to diagnose bruxism during your annual teeth exam. However, if your dentist suspects that the bruxism is due to sleep issues, they may recommend you make an appointment with a sleep specialist. If necessary, a sleep study may be performed to evaluate the number of episodes of teeth grinding that are present and if other sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, are present.
A licensed therapist or counselor can assist if anxiety or psychological issues are also present.
What are treatment options for bruxism?
Mild bruxism doesn’t often require treatment. If the grinding and clenching of teeth is severe though, options for treatment may include dental approaches such as mouth guards or splints. Muscle relaxants, anxiety medicines, and Botox injections may also help alleviate teeth grinding. If other sleep-related disorders are present, treating these disorders should alleviate sleep bruxism.
As always, it’s important to discuss the symptoms of teeth grinding with your dentist or healthcare professional. Once the underlying reason for bruxism is established, it can be easily remedied. To discuss your sleep concerns, call our West Lakes Sleep Center at 515.875.9555.