May 18, 2007, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills - Do you grind your teeth while sleeping? If so, you're suffering from Bruxism, the technical term for the night time clenching and grinding that abrades teeth and can cause facial pain.
Bruxers also may bite their fingernails and pencils or chew on the inside of their teeth. This entirely subconscious behavior can cause great damage to oral health.
Little is known about the cause, though several factors may play a part, including nervous-system malfunction, poor diet, allergies and facial or oral trauma. Stress over job, family or health are thought to be a major contributor.
Alcohol and drug use also may increase the incidence of bruxism.
Children who exhibit this behavior usually stop grinding their teeth by adulthood. However, adults may experience it for an indefinite period of time.
PROBLEMS
Problems associated with bruxism include:
• Fractured teeth and fillings
• Temporomandibular Joint Damage (commonly known as TMJ)
• Sensitive teeth, resulting from tooth enamel being worn away
• Headaches, ear aches and sore facial muscles
• Cosmetic damage
TEMPOMANDIUBULAR JOINT SYNDROME
TMJ Syndrome causes irritation of the cartilage around the joints of your upper and lower jaw, leading to pain in the ears and jaw.
Bruxers can wear down the meeting surface of their upper and lower teeth so intensely that it may create an imbalance between the right and left sides of the mouth. This can result in periodontal disease and structural stress to the roots of the teeth and tissues.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is fairly simple. Your dentist usually can identify bruxism during a routine checkup. Wear is most commonly fund on the molars at the back of the mouth.
TREATMENTS
Your dentist will develop a treatment plan that will include tooth care and stress reduction. Relaxation therapies, including meditation and body-calming activities, can reduce the psychological stress aggravating bruxism.
Some biofeedback training programs can help bruxers control the involuntary nervous movements of TMJ Syndrome with healthy, learned responses.
During a biofeedback session, a monitoring system will emit sounds that alert you to any changes. You then learn to create this state of relaxation, including control of your breathing pattern and pulse rate.
Your dentist may fit you with an o-guard. Also known as a rubber mouth guard or occlusive guard, the mouth guard takes the punishment inflicted by grinding to minimize damage associated with bruxism.
LEARN MORE
Call top cosmetic dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser today at 1.310.550.0383 or email us to schedule an appointment and learn more about soda drinks and dental erosion.
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