Dental bruxism: what you need to know

Dental bruxism is the involuntary grinding of the teeth, which can cause serious damage to the teeth. In the following post we tell you about the causes, symptoms and existing treatments for dental bruxism. Keep reading!

Dental bruxism is what we know as clenching and grinding the teeth. This involuntary action can occur both during the day and at night while we sleep, with the latter being the most common, as it is harder to control during sleep.

What can happen? Well, serious damage to our teeth, such as:tooth wear and pain in the jaw joints, among many other problems. It is therefore necessary to tackle this involuntary movement in order to maintain good oral health.

Causes of dental bruxism

Although there is no single fixed cause in cases of bruxism, there are factors that are strongly associated with these involuntary grinding movements, such as:

• Poor alignment of the teeth.
• Poor sleep habits and lack of rest.
• A poor diet.
• Anxiety and stress.

Symptoms of dental bruxism

Dental bruxism may cause the following symptoms in those who suffer from it:

• Pain in the jaws, ears, face, head and neck.
• Dental injuries, such as tooth wear.
• Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, as grinding the teeth at night can reduce our resting time.
• Eating disorders, such as loss of appetite.
• Strong tooth sensitivity to cold and heat.
• Inflammation in the jaw joint.
• Muscle tension and a feeling of tiredness.

Treatments for bruxism

Bruxism treatments are always linked to a risk of dental injury. However, each treatment will be adapted according to the severity of each case. Therefore, the following are recommended:

• Relaxation exercises. Practising relaxation techniques throughout the day will help us release tension and, therefore, reduce anxiety and stress.
• Occlusal splint. These splints are dental protectors made from plastic or resins and are used in the most serious cases. These splints are used at night, because this is when it is most difficult to control grinding movements. It is important to say that these protectors fight the symptoms, but not the causes. However, splints will protect our teeth.

In addition, there are other tips you can follow to fight the symptoms caused by dental bruxism, such as:

• Apply warm cloths or ice to the jaw areas where pain occurs. You can also massage these areas to achieve relief.
• Maintain a proper sleep routine.
• High water intake throughout the day.
• Avoid eating hard foods. It is important to know that chewing gum encourages the appearance of dental bruxism.