A Comprehensive Guide on Bruxism

Guide on Bruxism : Dentist have reported an increase in the number of patients who have presented for treatment on tooth damage as a result of Bruxism. Bruxism Treatment has shown an increase since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Are you wondering what Bruxism is? Well, it is also known as teeth grinding, and is an involuntary action that can happen while you sleep or during the day. There are many reasons why Bruxism may occur. Many people grind their teeth occasionally, something that is not uncommon but can have terrible effects on your teeth, jaw and oral health. Integrity Dental has seen many cases of this.

So, How Do I Know If I Have Bruxism?

You may not know you have Bruxism if it only happens in grinding teeth while you sleep. It may be discovered if you share a bed or bedroom. The signs that may indicate you have this are:

• Headache, facial pain or earache after waking up from a sleep.
• Involuntary sleep grinding or clenching your teeth when anxious, deep in concentration with something or angry.
• Teeth are worn down, damaged or feel loose
• Pain or stiffness in the jaw joints (TMJ)
• Teeth feel painful or are sensitive to temperature

What are the causes of teeth grinding?

There is no one single cause for bruxism. Teeth grinding and clenching may be related to a physical issue with your jaw or teeth, emotional issues in your life or even medical reasons.

The risk factor for Bruxism is greater if:

• You have a family history of bruxism
• Have certain medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), dementia or Parkinson Disease.
• You feel angry, anxious or stressed
• You have missing teeth or an uneven or misaligned bite
• You smoke or consume alcohol or caffeine
• You have a sleep disorder such as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
• You take certain drugs or medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics or illegal drugs such as cocaine.

Bruxism is more common in children than adults, particularly when the baby teeth have gone, and the primary or secondary teeth are coming through or if they have a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) integrity Dental recommends you make an appointment, and they will offer advice the best dental care for managing these issues.

What Are The Dangers Of Bruxism?

If you have mild Bruxism, you may not feel any discomfort. A mild case of Bruxism occurs when you grind your teeth about once every three to five days and cause very little damage to the teeth. At this stage, one or two teeth may be worn down, have a crown replaced or some tooth removed. Integrity Dental recommends you seek advice from them directly by making an appointment to have a dental check-up.

However, if you grind your teeth much more than this, severe or chronic bruxism will develop with significant and irreversible damage to your teeth and additional issues that will eventually require treatment.

Complications of Bruxism can include:

• Worn or flattened teeth
• Tooth loss
• Broken fillings, crowns or other dental restorations
• Chipped or cracked teeth
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

A damaged or lost tooth is considered an emergency as it may lead to further injuries or leave the tooth exposed to infection without the correct treatment from Integrity Dental.

How Do You Treat Bruxism?

If you think yourself or a family member may have bruxism, we suggest you make an appointment for Bruxism Treatment with Integrity Dental for best dental care possible. We will fully explain the treatment required for issues that may be present and related to bruxism such as damaged teeth. Ongoing we can also chat to you regarding best dental care for your oral health moving forward.

Depending on the cause of bruxism, treatment options may include:

Therapeutic Treatment

If bruxism is stress-related, Integrity Dental will make you an appointment with a dentist who will discuss and recommend relaxation techniques and health tips for teeth.

Therapies recommended for bruxism may include:

Biofeedback
Meditation
Hypnotherapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Bite Splint

If you grind or clench your teeth at night, your best dental care dentist may provide a custom-fitted bite splint or night guard to wear over your teeth during the night when you are asleep. This is very similar to a mouthguard and prevents your teeth from connecting and making contact. A bite splint can help relieve bruxism for some patients and protect your teeth from damage, but it may not cure the condition altogether. Your dentist will help with health tips for teeth.

Straightening Teeth

Teeth or jaws don’t always come together normally, Integrity Dental will advise on the best dental care and may discuss options for straightening teeth to assist in the treatment of bruxism and other complications of a misaligned bite. Orthodontic treatments include metal or ceramic braces and removable aligners. Teeth straightening is a long-term treatment that may take several years, depending on how much straightening is required.

Restoring Teeth

If the biting surface of your teeth is uneven because some teeth are worn away, misshapen or worn, these may be restored by using dental crowns or strong fillings.

Your dentist may additionally recommend fitting crowns over teeth that have been weakened by griding to protect them from more damage in the future.

Replacing Teeth

If you are missing teeth, your dentist at Integrity Dental can discuss replacements such as dental implants or dentures, based on your preferences and the amount you can afford to spend. Teeth that have been structurally damaged by teeth grinding may also benefit from being removed and replaced. Please note this is always a last resort and Integrity Dental will offer you advice on what is best for each individual patient.

Other Treatments

Bruxism can sometimes be a cause from side effects of medication, a health condition or sleep related disorder. Treating the underlaying problem may additionally assist the treatment of bruxism. Always talk to your GP before making any changes to any medication.

Some health professionals may recommend muscle relaxant medication or injections to assist with bruxism symptoms, yet there is currently very limited evidence of their effectiveness.

How Can I Prevent Bruxism?

You can decrease the risk of developing bruxism by managing the risk factors

This can involve:

• Improving your sleep routine
• Getting plenty of exercise
• Avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening
• Trying to avoid situations that cause stress and anxiety
• Keeping up with your regular dental check-ups so your dentist can monitor your progress

Integrity Dental recommends if you need health tips for teeth or need Bruxism Treatment call us to make an appointment and receive best dental care.