Bruxism
Hunter, and Darren
Bruxism;
A condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth.
Symptoms;
- Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
- Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw or face pain or soreness
- Tired or tight jaw muscles
- Pain that feels like an earache, though it's actually not a problem with your ear
- Dull headache originating in the temples
- Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
- Indentations on your tongue
Causes of Bruxism;
Doctors don't completely understand what causes bruxism, but these are all possibilities;
- Emotions, such as anxiety, stress, anger, frustration or tension
- Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)
- Other sleep problems, such as sleep apnea
- An uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications, such as phenothiazines or certain antidepressants
Treatment;
In many cases, treatment isn't necessary. Many kids outgrow bruxism without treatment, and many adults don't grind or clench their teeth.
Splints and mouth guards; These are designed to keep teeth separated to avoid the damage caused by clenching and grinding.