What is Bruxism?

When grinding your teeth becomes a condition, not just a habit

Ever woken to hear your partner exclaim you were gnashing your teeth all night? Ever noticed that when you’re stressed you tend to grind your teeth or clench your jaw a lot? If so, you may have experienced Bruxism. 

So, what is Bruxism exactly?

According to the Australian Dental Association, Bruxism is a condition where we involuntarily clench, grind and gnash our teeth. Often this grinding happens during sleep, however it is very common for it to happen during the day too. 

Usually, a person doesn’t realise that they even have Bruxism. In fact, they probably aren’t even aware that they are grinding their teeth during their sleep. Often it is their partner or parent who first hears it.

 

What causes Bruxism?

There are a few reasons why we grind our teeth. Perhaps the most well known cause is stress. Some people grind their teeth when they are feeling angry, anxious or are intensely concerned about completing certain tasks.

Some of the other causes of bruxism include:

Drinking alcohol

Drinking Caffeine

Snoring or Sleep Apnoea

Taking certain types of drugs such as antidepressants 

The best way to determine what is causing your bruxism is to chat with us. A dentist can take a look at many factors and help assess what may be causing you to grind your teeth and work out the best way forward to help.

Can adults and children experience Bruxism?

The answer is yes. In fact, did you know that over half of the Australian population have experienced bruxism at some point in their lives? About 5% of us are more regular and severe grinders.

For children, it can be common to hear them grinding their teeth during their sleep. The good news is that, as their teeth and jaws are changing and growing so quickly, it’s not likely that they will require treatment for bruxism. Most children will actually outgrow the habit.

It does, of course, make sense to keep an eye on the situation as excessive grinding can become a problem if it continues over a considerable length of time.

Why are the effects and symptoms of Bruxism?

Well, there are many things to unpack here. With Bruxism, the symptoms and effects can be considered together. These include:

Headaches, jaw or ear pain

Clenched or stiff jaw (particularly when stressed or upset)

Toothache

Increased temperature sensitivity for teeth

Stiffness of the jaw first thing in the morning or pain when you’re eating breakfast

Chipped or damaged tooth enamel

Tongue biting leading to ulcers

Wobbly teeth

All of the above are impacts we’d rather live without. Some issues of course will cause more concern than others and require some treatment, however most symptoms can be alleviated quite simply. If any of these symptoms are bothering you or your child, it’s best to discuss them with a professional.

 

How is Bruxism treated?

The first step in treating Bruxism is to find out the cause. This is something you will need to consult with your dentist about. They will assess factors such as your sleep hygiene, whether your teeth have suffered significant erosion and whether your medications may be impacting your Bruxism.

Your Bruxism management and treatment may include:

Wearing a special mouthguard or bite splint at night to alleviate symptoms

Repairing tooth damage caused by excessive grinding

Stress management techniques such as relaxation or CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)

An evaluation of diet and medication

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP machine) or Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) if your bruxism is due to sleep aponea

It’s important to note that whilst we can assist with the symptoms and impact of Bruxism, the causes and the actual grinding need to be addressed by your GP or sleep physician.

 

What should I do if I think I have Bruxism?

Talk to us at Dentist Mandy! As we’ve mentioned, Bruxism generally isn’t a serious condition, but it is one that causes symptoms you’d rather not have. We do need to say though that, in some cases, long term and excessive teeth grinding can lead to damaging your teeth quite badly. If your grinding is at the stage where your teeth are really being worn down, you may require dental treatments such as bridges, crowns, root canals, implants or dentures. This is obviously something you’d rather avoid!

So, if you feel like you may be grinding your teeth too much, or hear your child gnashing their jaws excessively in their sleep, get in touch. We’ll be able to chat with you about possible causes and some simple solutions so that Bruxism doesn’t become a big problem. Remember – we’re here to you can keep smiling.