Sleep bruxism, also known as bruxomania, is the medical term for teeth grinding and clenching at night. Thousands of people suffer with the condition, and many children and adults unknowingly grind their teeth while sleeping. However, bruxism can also occur during waking hours and often serves as a way for individuals to relieve tension and stress.
Chronic tooth grinding is not a life threatening condition, but it may still have a significant impact on the life of affected individuals. The best course of action is to seek sleep bruxism treatment, although the effectiveness of treatment methods is highly relative to the individual. All methods may not work for all people.
Causes of Sleep Bruxism
While it's not completely clear what causes bruxism in all individuals, doctors believe that sensitive teeth, stress, allergies and nutrient deficiencies may contribute to the condition in some people. It has also been suggested that bruxism in young children may be part of the natural tooth-loss process. However, if the behavior continues as the child grows, it could become a more serious problem.
Increased physical and psychological stress may aggravate bruxism if left untreated. It may be important to treat any underlying problems as a precursor to treating sleep bruxism. In many cases, dealing with these issues may put an end to tooth grinding without the need for specialized treatments.
Consequences of Sleep Bruxism
Sleep bruxism often puts a huge amount of force on the teeth and gums. In fact, it is believed to exert up to three times the force of normal chewing. However, tooth grinding is more damaging than this, because the whole force is applied to the teeth. During normal chewing, the force is applied primarily to the food, which causes less damage.
There are numerous consequences associated with chronic teeth grinding. It may lead to damaged, worn, decayed, weakened, cracked, fractured or loose teeth, and it can contribute to a number of other conditions. Damage to the supporting bones in the jaw and receding gums are two common problems experienced by long-time tooth grinders.
If left unchecked, the teeth may be pushed out of line and teeth may even be lost altogether. In extreme cases, bruxism may lead to temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), which affects the muscles and joints of the jaw and causes extreme pain while chewing.
The teeth were not meant to sustain the tremendous pressure caused by sleep bruxism, and continued tooth grinding can affect more than just the teeth. Other common symptoms of sleep bruxism include jaw pain and tenderness, inflammation of salivary glands, headaches, fatigue of facial muscles, neck aches, earaches and even hearing loss.
Treating Sleep Bruxism
The most common bruxism treatment is the teeth grinding mouth guard, although there are numerous other experimental and anecdotal treatments available. Changes in dietary habits, nutritional supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies have all been employed with some success against sleep bruxism. A dentist or health care professional can recommend treatments specific to an individual's unique situation.
References:
Castaneda, R. Occlusion. In A. S. Kaplan & L. A. Assael (Eds). Temporomandibular Disorders (pp. 40-49). Philadelphia: Saunders, 1992.
Zand, J. Smart medicine for a healthier child: a practical A-to-Z reference to natural and conventional treatments for infants and children. New York: Penguin Group, 2003.
Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing: A Practical A-To-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies. New York: Penguin Group, 2006.
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