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Teeth Grinding – Is There A Remedy That Works?
Although "bruxism" may not be a familiar term to most people,
“tooth grinding” is. Tooth grinding (or bruxism) is the
habit of grinding teeth and/or clenching one’s jaw and can affect
anyone from a young child to a grown adult. This habit usually occurs
unnoticed to the sufferer and most commonly occurs at night whilst
sleeping. With a few simple lifestyle and diet changes and bruxism
treatments this painful aspect of your life can be in the past.
Symptoms for Teeth Grinding
There are a number of symptoms and signs that can suggest that one
is suffering from teeth grinding even if it is a completely unconscious
act. A bruxism sufferer would most likely experience some kind of
facial pain usually centered around the jaw. In turn, this may lead
to earaches and contractions in the jaw muscles. In the cases of children,
chewing the inside of their cheek, sucking their thumb or gnawing
on toys could be a sign. An irritable feeling combined with any of
these symptoms may also be indicative of a habit of grinding teeth.
Causes of Teeth Grinding
The causes of grinding teeth are difficult to pinpoint and are largely
unknown but most cases are usually caused by stress and mental problems
or simply a misalignment of the teeth. The top and bottom teeth being
out of alignment is the main cause of grinding teeth in children but
for an even younger child, the cause can often be appointed to facial
pain such as earache. However, children, unlike most adults, tend
to outgrow grinding teeth problems before it becomes a serious issue.
The nocturnal form of bruxism can be more serious than its day-to-day
counterpart as the sufferer often grinds their teeth much harder,
up to six times more powerfully than during the day! Although you
may not have realised, you might have suffered from this particular
form of tooth grinding at some point in your life.
Diagnosis of Teeth Grinding
Another possible cause of teeth grinding has been shown to be dehydration.
This is another reason why cutting out alcohol (which heavily dehydrates
the body) can help to stop teeth grinding. It is suggested that the
sufferer should increase their intake of water to keep the body hydrated
and thus counter the habit.
Complications Caused by Teeth Grinding
Long term teeth grinding can lead to a number of complications. Loosened
teeth, and chipped enamel on the tooth’s surface are some of
the first effects. Eventually, a sufferer may experience severe facial
pain and jaw ache as well as an increased sensitivity to temperatures
inside the mouth. In cases of chronic teeth grinding complications
such as temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) which affects the “hinged”
part of your jaw.
How to Stop Teeth Grinding
Treatment of bruxism can take a number of forms. If you believe you
or your child have been suffering from grinding teeth problems then
it is wise to consult your dentist. Your dentist is able to determine
the likely causes of teeth grinding by studying the alignment of the
teeth and will be able to suggest an appropriate course of treatment
depending on the factors involved.
A mouth guard is one of the most often recommended remedies for
bruxism. It is similar to an athletic mouth protector that one wears
at night to prevent the teeth from being ground together. It has
a high success rate is reducing the habit but can be uncomfortable
for some people. Ready-made mouth guards can be purchased at most
drugstores but made to fit custom ones may be purchased from your
dentist and can provide more comfort for the wearer.
Another treatment that has shown a fairly high success rate in
bruxism treatments is hypnosis. This is suggested as a final resort
if no success has been had with previous treatments.
So, however uncomfortable, stressful and painful bruxism or grinding
teeth may be, there are a wide number of tried and tested options
and remedies out there for sufferers to try.
