What is Bruxism (Tooth Clenching)?
Bruxism (tooth clenching) is a condition in which an individual clenches, grinds, or presses their teeth together.
Bruxism (tooth clenching) is a condition in which an individual clenches, grinds, or presses their teeth together. Individuals with bruxism (teeth grinding) may unconsciously clench their teeth while awake, or clench or grind their teeth during sleep.
Sleep bruxism (teeth grinding) is considered a movement disorder normally associated with sleep. It has been observed that individuals who clench or grind their teeth during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing, that is, sleep apnea.
Mild cases of bruxism may not require any treatment. However, in some individuals, bruxism can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth, and other problems.
Individuals bruksizm sleep (teeth grinding) will not be easy to realize for obtaining bruksizm to several complications (external gicirtdatma) and to know the signs and symptoms of regular dental care to maintain the individual's oral and dental health is important.
The reasons
What Causes Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)?
Medical experts have not determined exactly what causes bruxism (grinding of teeth), but they believe that it is caused by a combination of genetic, physical and psychological factors.
In many cases, awake bruxism (teeth grinding) can be caused by feelings such as anxiety, stress, anger, frustration, or tension. In addition, it may have developed as a coping strategy or a habit in a process in which the individual enters deep concentration.
Sleep bruxism (teeth grinding), on the other hand, can occur as a result of chewing activity associated with arousal during sleep or associated with sleep.
Various factors increase the risk of developing bruxism (Decaying teeth) in an individual: Among these factors, stress comes first. Increased anxiety or stress can cause teeth to grind. The reason for this can also be anger and frustration. Bruxism (teeth grinding) can be associated with Parkinson's disease, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder i.e. GERD, epilepsy, night terrors, sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea, and some other mental health and medical disorders such as attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder i.e. ADHD.
Age is another influencing factor for bruxism (teeth grinding). Bruxism (grinding of teeth) is more common in young children, but usually passes in adulthood.
It has been observed that the risk of bruxism (grinding of teeth) is high in individuals with an aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type.
Bruxism (teeth grinding) can be a rare side effect of psychiatric medications, such as some antidepressants. Similarly, smoking, consuming caffeinated beverages, alcohol, or using recreational drugs can increase the risk of bruxism (teeth grinding).
Sleep bruxism (teeth grinding) tends to occur especially in families. It is very likely that individuals with bruxism (grinding of teeth) also have a history of bruxism in their families.
What Are the Complications That Can Occur With Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)?
In many cases, bruxism (teeth grinding) does not cause serious complications. However, severe bruxism (grinding of teeth) can lead to damage to the teeth that will require filling or restoration, headaches caused by blood pressure, and severe pain in the jaw or face. Disorders that occur in the temporomandibular joints, called TMJ for short, that is, jaw joints, can cause a clicking sound to come to the ear during the process of opening and closing the individual's mouth.
Symptoms
What are the Symptoms and Types of Bruxism (teeth grinding)?
Bruxism (grinding of teeth) can be divided into two different types: sleep bruxism (grinding of teeth), if it occurs while the individual is asleep, and awake bruxism, if it occurs while the individual is awake.
Bruxism (grinding of teeth) has various signs and symptoms caused by pressing the teeth together. Among the signs and symptoms of tooth Decoupling, the main one is :
* Grinding teeth loudly enough to wake up the individual's sleeping partner
* Increased toothache, including interlocking
* Tooth sensitivity, cracked, flattened, loosened or chipped teeth
* Pain in the jaw, neck or face
* Tooth enamel that has been eroded enough to expose the deeper layers of the tooth
* Pain that feels like earache, although there is no problem in the ear
* Mild headache that starts in the temples
* Sleep disturbance
* Damage to the inside of the cheek caused by chewing
* There is a locked jaw that does not November open and close completely with tired or contracting jaw muscles.
Individuals who have any of the symptoms listed above or have other concerns about teeth or jaw should consult a dentist or doctor.
Parents who notice that their child has teeth grinding or other signs or symptoms of Bruxism (teeth grinding) should mention this at the child's next dental appointment.
Diagnostic Methods
How is Bruxism (Tooth Clenching) Diagnosed?
Dentists will also check for possible signs of bruxism (tooth clenching) in the process of regular dental examinations. If the dentist encounters any symptoms, he will investigate whether there are changes in the teeth and mouth during the next few visits to see if the process is progressing and determine whether the individual needs treatment.
If the dentist diagnoses that an individual has bruxism (tooth clenching), he tries to determine the cause of tooth clenching by asking questions about the general dental health of the individual, the medications he uses, his daily routines and sleeping habits.
in the process of making the diagnosis of bruxism (tooth clenching), the dentist checks various items to assess the extent of his condition. These checked items include the search for obvious dental abnormalities such as tenderness in the jaw muscles, broken or missing teeth, as well as traces of damage to the teeth and the inside of the cheeks, as well as traces of damage to the underlying jawbone with the help of X-rays. In this way, a normal dental examination can detect temporomandibular joint disorders, other dental problems, or other health disorders that can cause similar jaw or ear pain.
Treatment Methods
How Does Bruxism (Tooth Clenching) Pass?
In many cases, especially in young children, bruxism (clenching) will heal on its own without any treatment, and adults usually do not clenched or grind their teeth badly enough to require therapy. However, in some rare and more severe cases, the underlying cause of bruxism may need to be treated to prevent bruxism.
How is Bruxism (Tooth Clenching) Treated?
The treatment process applied in severe cases of bruxism (tooth clenching) includes certain dental approaches, therapies and medications to prevent further tooth damage and relieve jaw pain or discomfort. The individual should talk to his dentist or doctor to find out which is the most appropriate option for him or his child affected by bruxism (tooth clenching).
Various approaches can help alleviate the bruxism (tooth clenching) seen in the individual.
For individuals whose bruxism (clenching of teeth) seems to be associated with greater sleep problems, the doctor may recommend a sleep medicine specialist. A sleep medicine specialist may order a test such as a sleep study to evaluate an individual's teeth grinding events and determine whether the individual has sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.
If it seems to be related to tooth clenching, anxiety, or other similar psychological problems, the doctor may refer the individual to a licensed therapist or counselor. Stress or anxiety management can help an individual in alleviating bruxism (tooth clenching). Individuals who clench their teeth due to stress can prevent the problem by learning strategies that promote relaxation, such as meditation.
When an individual discovers that he has bruxism (tooth clenching), he can change his teeth clenching and grinding behavior by practicing the appropriate and correct mouth and jaw position. An individual can contact their dentist to learn the most appropriate and correct position for their own mouth.
In the process of dental approaches, the doctor may suggest ways to protect or improve the teeth of an individual or their child. Although these methods can prevent or correct tooth wear, they may not be able to stop bruxism (tooth clenching) itself.
Splints and mouth guards are designed to keep the teeth apart to prevent damage caused by squeezing and grinding. Made of hard acrylic or softer materials, these tools can sit on the upper or lower teeth.
In more severe cases, especially when tooth wear leads to tooth sensitivity or inability to chew properly, the dentist may need to reshape the chewing surfaces of the teeth or perform tooth correction using crowns to repair the damage.
Individuals who have difficulty changing their habits can benefit from biofeedback, a method that uses monitoring procedures and equipment to teach how to control muscle activity in the jaw.
In general, in many cases, the use of drugs is not very effective for the treatment of bruxism, and further research is necessary to determine their effectiveness. examples of drugs that can be used for bruxism (tooth clenching) in more appropriate cases include, first of all, muscle relaxants.
Decongestants.In some cases, the doctor may recommend taking a muscle relaxant shortly before bedtime. The doctor may recommend the short-term use of antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications to help deal with stress or other emotional problems that can cause bruxism (grinding teeth).
If the individual has developed bruxism (tooth clenching) as a side effect of a medication, the doctor may change the dose of the medication or prescribe a different medication. However, without consulting a doctor, an individual should not change the dose of a drug himself or discontinue its use.