Bruxism

$DEFINITION: Bruxism is the grinding of the teeth. Usually, it does not cause much harm. However, in advanced cases, teeth can be seriously damaged, leading to different complications. The most harmful type of bruxism occurs at night time. The causes of bruxism are: • Anxiety and stress. • Improper occlusion due to absence of teeth or misalignment of the jaws or teeth. SYMPTOMS: • May be difficult to self detect defective fillings. • In advanced cases, sensitivity to cold and hot. • Sensitivity to sugar. • Teeth can be fractured, worn down, or even be lost due to chronic grinding, in cases of chronic grinding. • Alteration of jaws, which could result in partial loss of hearing, affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or even change the facial appearance. TREATMENTS: • Bite splint can be fabricated by the dentist, to be worn at night, when teeth grinding occurs the most. • Stress reduction as much as possible. • Reduction of foods that contain caffeine (i.e. coffee, chocolate, or soft drinks). • Avoid chewing on objects that are not food (i.e. pencils) • If grinding occurs at daytimes (when we are aware of it), stop ourselves • Relaxation of the chewing muscles, by applying a wet and warm cloth to the face, in front of the ears, especially in the evening times. • In advanced cases where teeth are fractured, worn down, or even lost, treatments such as crowns, bridges, root canals, or implants may be needed. PREVENTION: It is hard to self-detect grinding, since it occurs during the night, as we are sleeping. However, a migraine or pain to the jaws in the morning can be indications of possible bruxism. Often, people discover that they grind their teeth through their partner, hearing them at night. Therefore, if teeth grinding is suspected, it is recommended to consult a dentist, to prevent worsening symptoms. SOURCES: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (www.wikipedia.org). WebMD, better information, better health (www.webmd.com).$ shapeimage_1_link_0