What is bruxism? – symptoms, causes, and how to stop grinding teeth

Bruxism is a condition in which the patient clenches or grinds their teeth unconsciously, this can occur in children, teens, or adults.

It can occur during the day (daytime bruxism) or during sleeping hours (sleep bruxism) due to different causes, although the most common is that teeth grinding occurs due to psychological causes.

Constantly clenching your teeth has consequences on your overall health since, in addition to wearing down the teeth, it can cause muscular pain, headache, jaw pain from clenching (damage to the TMJ), and much more.

Types of bruxism

teeth grinding can be classified in three ways: 

  • Depending on the time it occurs. 
  • Depending on the movement performed. 
  • Depending on the degree of severity.

Types of teeth grinding according to the time it occurs

  • Daytime bruxism: The patient is constantly clenching teeth while awake, usually due to psychological causes such as stress, anxiety, or negative social interactions. 
  • Sleep bruxism: Grinding teeth in sleep is usually caused by neuromotor alterations that cause involuntary muscle movement, In most cases, those who suffer from sleep bruxism also suffer from other sleep disturbances such as snoring or sleep apnea.

Types of bruxism according to the movement performed

  • Centric bruxism: The jaw clenching occurs without teeth grinding. 
  • Eccentric Bruxism: Friction occurs as the jaw moves sideways or forward and backward, this is what causes the characteristic sound of nighttime teeth grinding.

A patient can present both types of bruxism simultaneously.

Types of teeth grinding according to the degree of severity

  • Degree I or mild habit: Clenching teeth occurs occasionally and for a short period and then disappears on its own without any treatment. 
  • Degree II or moderate habit: clenching teeth appear due to certain triggers such as anxiety and stress, the patient can stop grinding the teeth on their own once they become aware of it. 
  • Degree III or severe habit: teeth grinding occurs constantly, even if there is no specific trigger, The patient can not stop the involuntary movement even if they become aware of it, and medical treatment is required to stop teeth from grinding.

Pediatric teeth grinding

Teeth grinding in children is more common than you think, and it is normal to a certain extent.

Pediatric bruxism usually appears after the age of 6 and disappears on its own in adolescence.

Teeth grinding on kids can stimulate the eruption of permanent teeth and the growth of facial bones and muscles, which is why it usually appears when the child begins to lose their baby teeth.

This habit should start to decrease as the permanent teeth start to come in and should eventually disappear altogether.

If the habit persists or occurs in children under 6 years of age, it may be due to other causes not related to development, such as stress, anxiety, sleep apnea, neuromuscular disorders, etc.

As in adults, bruxism in children has consequences for the general health of the child like tooth pain from grinding teeth, therefore, teeth grinding treatment is necessary since not stopping bruxism can affect the normal growth of maxillofacial structures. 

The person in charge of diagnosing and treating pediatric teeth grinding is the pediatric dentist so if your child is clenching teeth at night, we suggest taking them to the pediatric dentist to make sure it is a natural stage of development.

Correlation between teeth grinding and intestinal parasitism

There is no scientifically proven correlation between bruxism and parasitosis, countless studies have been carried out that have found no connection. 

Still, some researchers hold the theory that certain types of parasites produce nervous system alterations and by extension, could produce neuromotor alterations such as bruxism.

However, this has never been proven and to this day the belief that teeth grinding in children is a symptom of parasitosis is still considered a myth.

Correlation between bruxism and sleep apnea

Sleep apnea represents a risk factor for bruxism since a stop in breathing can trigger episodes of grinding teeth in sleep, but it also works backward since severe sleep bruxism can cause muscular tension that could worsen sleep apnea episodes.

If that’s the case, it will be necessary to provide treatment for both conditions in order to achieve a real improvement.

Bruxism symptoms

The hallmark symptom of bruxism is the sound of grinding your teeth, but there are many other symptoms that people overlook, thinking these are not related to bruxism.

The symptoms of bruxism are:

  • Pain in the jaw, face, neck, shoulders, and headaches.
  • Discomfort is similar to earaches.
  • Difficulty opening and closing the mouth due to muscle stiffness.
  • Tooth sensitivity.
  • Tooth pain from grinding teeth.
  • Fractured teeth and fillings.
  • Flattened teeth.
  • Wounds on the inner face of the cheeks due to involuntary movement.
  • Difficulty resting properly during sleeping hours.
  • Sleep apnea.

Causes of teeth grinding

Teeth grinding has a multifactorial origin, which means that there are many causes, in some cases, there may even be several causes simultaneously, but in general, bruxism originates from emotional causes in both adults and children.

Among the emotional causes of bruxism are prolonged states of anxiety and stress that often trigger episodes of bruxism that can range from mild to severe, depending on the intensity of the psychological and emotional discomfort.

Fortunately, by reducing anxiety and stress, bruxism begins to decline rapidly.

Other causes of bruxism are:

  • Neuromotor alterations. 
  • Sleep disorders such as apnea. 
  • Excessive consumption of substances such as caffeine and alcohol. 
  • Smoking and drug use. 
  • Use of some medications, such as antidepressants.

Teeth grinding solutions

In most cases, teeth grinding does not need treatment as it usually disappears over time. In addition, teeth grinding is usually very mild and does not cause problems that require medical treatment.

However, in severe cases where there is no improvement over time, it is essential to start bruxism therapy to avoid damage to teeth and jaw and also to provide bruxism pain relief.

In this case, there are 4 ways to treat bruxism:

  • Occlusal splints for bruxism (occlusal guards to prevent teeth grinding).
  • Medication for bruxism.
  • Stress and anxiety management (relaxation techniques).
  • Massages for bruxism.

Mouth guards for bruxism

Bruxism mouthguards (occlusal guards to prevent teeth grinding) are similar to sports mouthguards.

These mouthguards are inserted between the upper and lower teeth and prevent direct contact between the teeth, This prevents the teeth from being worn or fractured and at the same time helps to reduce the tension in the jaw muscles.

The professional bruxism mouth guards are custom-made, these are manufactured in a hard and resistant material, However, there are also standard bruxism mouth guards. 

Standard bruxism mouthguards are made of soft materials and may not fit well in the patient’s mouth, so they do not offer the same benefits as mouthguards made by the dentist.

Standard bruxism dental guards can be found in pharmacies or even on Amazon, These are quite inexpensive and although they do not provide a permanent solution, they can be helpful while you go to the dentist and get your personalized teeth splint.

Bruxism medication

If bruxism is due to emotional causes, anxiety medication will have a direct and positive effect on bruxism by making it disappear almost immediately. 

Your dentist may also prescribe muscle relaxants for a few days until the bruxism episode ends.

Botox for bruxism

For cases of severe bruxism that occurs constantly in the day-to-day of the patient, you can opt for treatment with botulinum toxin. 

Botox injections for bruxism are highly effective in inhibiting involuntary contraction of masticatory muscles, and unlike other treatments, this has lasting effects. 

The effects of botox injections for bruxism can last between 4 and 6 months, depending on the characteristics of each patient, and provide considerable bruxism pain relief.

Management of stress and anxiety

Stress management techniques and holistic relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or mindfulness are highly effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of teeth grinding. 

Psychological therapy by the hand of a mental health professional plays a significant role in the management of work and social stress, Going to therapy will not only be the best way to stop grinding teeth in the long term but will allow you to achieve a better quality of life in general.

Massages for clenching teeth and jaw

Facial massages to relieve bruxism pain (myofascial therapy) are becoming increasingly popular since, in addition to being highly effective, they are very pleasant for the patient.

Myofascial therapy produces immediate relaxation of the muscles stressed by bruxism and also provides lasting cosmetic benefits by stimulating the oxygenation of the tissues, increasing circulation, and making the skin look healthier.

Bruxism during pregnancy

Bruxism in pregnancy is quite common, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy, this is due to emotional causes.

It is normal for the future mother to be under a lot of stress and emotional anxiety and this usually manifests itself through constant clenching of teeth and jaw.

Fortunately, bruxism begins to decrease naturally after the baby is born.

If bruxism is causing you inconvenience during your pregnancy, getting a mouth guard for clenching will help you ease your symptoms until your baby is born.

Difference between bruxism and trismus

Bruxism is the involuntary and unconscious habit of clenching the teeth and jaw while dental trismus is the difficulty in opening the mouth.

Severe bruxism can cause dental trismus, but trismus is a mild condition that is usually just annoying and can be controlled by doing opening and closing exercises.

In addition to bruxism, dental infections, otitis, tetanus, blows to the jaw, and dental extractions can also cause dental trismus.

Difference between bruxism and bruxomania

There is no difference between bruxism and bruxomania, these are synonyms that refer to the same condition: the involuntary and unconscious habit of grinding teeth.

Q&A about bruxism

Can bruxism break teeth?

Yes, in cases of severe bruxism, it is normal for the dental enamel to wear down and the teeth to suffer fractures.

What doctor treats bruxism?

The bruxism specialist is the dentist, this is the professional in charge of diagnosing and treating this condition.

How to relax my jaw if I am grinding my teeth at night?

Massage the jaw muscles using your fingers, do so for about 10 seconds, and then gently open and close your mouth. Here is a video of exercises for bruxism:

Does teeth grinding cause tingling in the face?

Yes, this tingling sensation is usually more common in the morning after waking up, due to accumulated muscle tension throughout the night.

Is clenching teeth hereditary?

Yes, genetic factors are one of the causes of bruxism, although many others have nothing to do with family genetics.

Does clenching teeth cause dizziness?

Yes, in severe cases of teeth grinding, vertigo, and dizziness can occur.

Does bruxism have a cure?

Yes, in most cases teeth grinding disappears on its own, without any treatment. 

In case your teeth grinding does not diminish or disappear over time, a dentist can provide you with the right treatment so that you can recover your health.

References

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterPost on X
FollowFollow us
PinterestSave