Everything You Need to Know About Bruxism

The involuntary clenching and grinding of teeth in a para-functional manner (outside of normal function like chewing or eating) is known as bruxism. It might be triggered by stress or anxiety, but it is usually an unconscious action that patients perform while sleeping. While bruxism does not cause pain or discomfort to everyone, it could cause headaches, neck aches, facial pain, earaches, sleep disturbances, jaw pain, and stiffness in some people.

What Causes Bruxism?

Although there is no specific, clear consensus as to what causes bruxism, the following factors are among those believed to trigger it in susceptible people:

• Physical Stress - like illness or some deficiency
• Emotional Stress - like anger or anxiety
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Wrong tooth alignment
• Drugs Misuse
• Parkinson’s disease - nervous system disorder that affects movement. People suffering from this disease brux their teeth more.

Common  Symptoms of Bruxism

Signs & symptoms of bruxism may include the following:

• Tongue indentations caused by teeth
• Cracked, fractured, chipped teeth
• Damage on the mucosa of the cheek caused by cheek biting
• Worn tooth enamel
• A locked or stiff jaw
• Aching temples
• Severe facial pain
• Increased tooth pain, especially on waking up

Dental Treatments for Bruxism

• Bruxism is a condition that requires cautious management. Because bruxism can be caused by a variety of conditions, it must be diagnosed before treatment is recommended to ensure that the fundamental causes are addressed. 
• For its treatment, some factors need to be considered like the condition of the teeth as well as the patient’s face type, bite type, and previous dental conditions. Depending on these conditions, the treatment can be simple or complex.
• Bruxism frequently affects several teeth, if not all of them, necessitating a more thorough treatment plan that includes preventative measures. Full mouth treatment may be required in some cases.
• Bruxism night guard or occlusal splint is used to treat in its early phases. This is a thin plastic plate that sits on top of the upper teeth. The patient can then grind against the plate rather than their teeth, to wear it out. 
• Wearing the guard reduces bruxism just by wearing it. More sophisticated treatment may be required to replace cracked, worn, or lost teeth, followed by a bruxism mouth guard, once significant wear and fractures have occurred.
• A physiotherapist may also need to work on head and neck muscles if bruxism causes associated pain. Please keep in mind that the jaw joint is a unique joint, and you should seek treatment only from a physiotherapist with extensive experience in this area.
• It is imperative to begin the treatment as soon as possible to avoid the terrible repercussions of bruxism, such as worn and fractured teeth.

Colorado Wellness Dentistry offers the best dental care procedures in Centennial, CO including treatment for bruxism. For more information and appointments, call us at (303) 798-1068, book online, and visit us at 9085 E Mineral Cir #220, Centennial, CO 80112.