Bruxism is when a person clenches or affirms their teeth during their sleep or in their line of work. It is the same as wake-tilt bruxism, which happens during the day, and sleep-tilt bruxism, which occurs at night. While bruxism appears harmless in the short run, it may condition your overall health and produce dental issues in the long run. This article offers practical management and avoidance strategies recommended by the dental clinic in Norfolk, MA along with a summary of how bruxism could compromise the condition of your teeth.
Causes of Bruxism
Bruxism may have many causes.
- Anxiety and tension: The majority of adults who practice bruxism do it due to stress and worry.
- Sleep Disorders: Sleep disorders can affect the typical sleeping pattern as teeth grinding occurs at night.
- Malocclusion- Misalignment of the teeth may produce an uneven bite that aggravates bruxism. Those lacking or with crooked teeth may grind them more often.
- Styles of living: Of all the lifestyle factors, bruxism mostly happens because of smoking, excessive alcohol or caffeine, and recreational drugs.
How Bruxism Affects Your Oral Health
Untreated bruxism might have serious long-term consequences for oral health. Among the most typically occurring fallout are:
- Bruxism may cause apparent tooth enamel loss and erosion, therefore changing the bite, increasing dental sensitivity, and raising cavity risk. The teeth may break, flatten, or even come free.
- In restorative dental treatment, damaged or fractured teeth resulting from constant pressure from grinding would call for either crowns, veneers, or even extractions.
- As bruxism worsens, it might affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jawbone to the skull. TMJ symptoms include limited jaw motion, headaches, trouble swallowing, and continuous jaw discomfort.
- Gum recession caused by bruxism may expose the tooth roots. From this, one would anticipate higher sensitivity, more risk of decay, and tooth loss.
- Chronic bruxism may alter the form of your face since the continuous pressure on the jaw creates muscular hypertrophy—enlargement of the muscles. From this, one might adopt a more square-shaped jawline or flattened face.
- Sleep bruxism may disturb your sleep and cause everyday difficulty focusing, irritation, and tiredness. Moreover, poor sleep quality aggravates health problems like decreased immunity and higher stress levels.
How to Manage and Prevent Bruxism
Even though bruxism might affect your oral state, there are many ways to control and stop it:
- Usually caused by tension and worry, bruxism is, therefore, essential to acquiring stress management skills. Approaches include yoga, deep breathing exercises, meditation, and progressive muscular relaxation to help minimize the risk of teeth grinding and relieve tension.
- A custom-fitted night guard, a biting splint, may shield your teeth from the destructive power of sleep bruxism.
- Establishing a consistent sleeping schedule and organizing peaceful nighttime surroundings helps avoid bruxism. Try to get 7–9 hours of sleep every night; stay away from screens, large dinners, and exciting activities just before bed.
- Some jaw exercises help muscles relax and ease the tension causing grinding. Your physical therapist or dentist may suggest specific exercises to relax and strengthen the jaw muscles.
Conclusion
If left unaddressed, bruxism can significantly impact oral health. From tooth wear and TMJ problems to gum recession and sleep difficulties, bruxism can cause extensive damage. However, understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and taking early action to manage and eliminate bruxism can help you protect your smile and preserve your teeth. Seeking a complete assessment and personalized treatment plan from a dentist is a crucial step if you suspect bruxism. With the right guidance, you can effectively manage and overcome bruxism.
