What Is Bruxism? Symptoms and Treatment
Bruxism is a condition characterized by clenching and grinding the teeth; it can occur both day and night but is more common during sleep. In advanced cases, a person may wake up from the sound of their own grinding, teeth can crack, and excessive development of the jaw muscle can change facial features. Its exact cause is unknown, though stress is a significant trigger, especially at onset.
Symptoms include increasing tooth pain, cracked or broken teeth, waking with head and neck pain, tooth wear, unexplained ear pain, jaw locking, sleep disturbances, and misalignment of the jaw. In cases that only occur at night, a person may not notice the condition for a long time, but the grinding sound is usually heard by others nearby.
Although the exact cause of bruxism is unknown, factors such as anxiety, anger, a stressful lifestyle, Parkinson's and dementia, reflux, epilepsy, genetic predisposition, sleep problems and excessive caffeine intake are thought to play a role. Some medications can also cause clenching as a side effect; it occurs more frequently in those with a family history.
Treatment may involve muscle relaxants and dopamine agents, stomach medications for reflux-related cases, psychological support for stress-related cases, and psychiatric medication if needed. A night guard, custom-made from a mouth impression, is an effective method for reducing grinding; with about 21 days of regular use, the problem can be significantly reduced.
A masseter (jaw clenching) filling weakens the chewing muscles through periodic injections given roughly every four months, providing lasting relief over time. Exercises like facial pressure release, fascia relaxation and jaw stretching can also help reduce pain, though they are not sufficient as a standalone treatment.
Untreated bruxism can lead to excessive tooth wear, cysts and inflammation, tooth fractures, jaw misalignment and speech problems, extreme tooth sensitivity, and mouth sores. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent most of these problems.