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Bruxism is the medical term used to describe the grinding and clenching of teeth. While it usually does not cause harm, prolonged grinding can damage teeth and give rise to oral health complications like jaw joint disorders.
Awake bruxism is triggered by frustration, anxiety, stress, or tension. Sleep bruxism on the other hand occurs when one is unconscious during sleep.
Bruxism in kids usually occurs at the second stage of sleep or during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Teeth grinding usually occurs around six times per hour and lasts about 4 seconds. The condition for kids and adults usually goes unnoticed until someone brings it up.
Most people experience occasional bruxism. If the behaviour is infrequent and/or mild, treatment is often not necessary. But prolonged bruxism can inflict long-term damage to your teeth and jaw and is often a symptom of bigger problems like sleep disorders that need attention.
Grinding your teeth applies too much pressure on your teeth and weakens the enamel, making them more prone to chips and cracks. The clenching of the jaw also strains the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect your lower jaw to the skull, risking headaches and other pains.
Most cases of bruxism are subconscious and can be detected rather easily. Look out for:
Bruxism can even alter the appearance of your face by unintentionally bulking on the masseter muscle. The masseter muscle is the cheek muscle that helps us chew and is one of the strongest muscles in the body.
If you suspect that you may be grinding your teeth, consult a dental professional.
To help target your bruxism properly, you would require a trip to the dentist for a custom-made bite splint or night guard. The device works to reduce bite pressure with its superior cushioning materials and specifically moulded impressions of your teeth. The special dental acrylic is easier on tooth enamel than many of the plastics found in store-bought mouthguards.
Misaligned teeth can cause an abnormal bite and strain your TMJ by uneven distribution of pressure applied by your jaw muscles. A proper bite alignment achieved through straightening your teeth usually translates to fewer jaw issues.
While you will wear down your aligners faster if you clench or grind your teeth, a set of aligners is changed every 2 weeks. They also double up as a guard against teeth grinding.
Once you complete your invisible braces treatment and move on to retainers, you might find that your retainers wear down faster but you can always get new ones. Many people lose or break their aligners on accident so it’s common to get replacements for retainers.
So fret not if you’re a teeth grinder! Clear aligners are still for you.
Headaches are one of the most noticeable symptoms of bruxism. Followed by tinnitus (earaches) and sinus pain, since the TMJ muscles surround these structures.
Botox helps to prevent involuntary bruxism. A small amount of botox injected into the masseter muscles works to temporarily relax the muscle. This will help prevent the muscle from overworking and reduce the nerve signals that play a part in clenching and grinding.
Sleeping on your back is the best position for bruxism. Your neck, shoulders and head are properly supported, reducing the pressure on your jaw. Sleeping in this neutral position would reduce the likelihood of you clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth.
Your wisdom teeth do not necessarily cause bruxism. However, if not advised properly on whether to remove them or not, it may put you at risk of developing TMJ in the future.
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