Bruxism is the clinical name for tooth grinding or clenching. Bruxing often happens while you sleep and if you don’t wake up with sore chewing muscles, sensitive teeth, or pressure in your jaw joint hinges (TMJs) you may not be aware that it’s happening. But, if your teeth are wearing down, cracking, or breaking… you do it and you need help!
Most people think grinding is a result of stressful emotions such as #anxiety, anger, or #frustration. It is true that these can contribute, but there is more to the story. The body likes harmony and we tend to grind when we don’t have it.
For Example:
OCCLUSAL (BITE) INTERFERENCES
At night the chewing muscles tend to pull the TMJ’s into their comfortable, home base position and the lower jaw hinges closed, hoping for a harmonious closure. If there are bumps in the road you’ll grind them out… and then some.
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)
When nighttime airway restrictions cause stress to the body many people grind their teeth.
DRUG REACTIONS
Many medications present bruxism as a side effect. The most common are antidepressants but may include everyday drugs such as #caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol.
ACID REFLUX
Stomach acid that shoots up through the throat and airway causes #irritation that can stimulate bruxism – especially at night.
NEUROLOGIC ORIGIN
A small percentage grind during delta stage sleep and many of this subgroup tend to show other symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, nail-biting, or other nervous tics.
AGE
Many, or dare we say most children grind teeth at some point or another, especially during the irritation of losing old and gaining new teeth.
EMOTIONAL STRESS
This can exacerbate these risk factors, as can having an aggressive, competitive, or high-strung personality type.
Bruxism is one of three major dental diseases that can steal your teeth from you.
If you are a suspect, talk to your dentist about identifying the cause(s); they might uncover subtle risk factors for OSA, acid reflux, prescription side effects, or bite interferences.
For treatment, they might suggest equilibration or bite balancing to remove interferences, or a precision appliance for nightwear to help reduce (not just protect) your stimulus to grind.