Bruxism is a sleep disorder that occurs to everyone at some point in his or her lifetime. The two main factors of Bruxism include the grinding of the teeth and the gritting of the.
A dentist can fit and measure a mouth guard to guard your teeth during sleep. Your dentist may even recommend a muscle relaxant before bedtime. If stress is the cause you need to find a way to relax. Meditation, counseling and exercise can all help reduce stress and anxiety.
The grinding of the teeth during sleep exerts excessive strain on the joints and muscled of the mouth. A few symptoms of bruxism include depression, earaches, headaches, eating disorders and anxiety. The only individual who can thoroughly tell the difference between bruxism and wear exerted by another factor is a trained professional.
BiteStrip®: An inexpensive tool used at home to diagnoses bruxism. BiteStrip® assesses the frequency and severity of the ailment can then be assessed and the best treatment plan can be formulated.
Implications of Bruxism:
Gum recession and tooth loss: Occurs due to soft tissue damage, loose teeth, and deep gum pockets.
Occlusal (chewing) trauma: Caused by irregular wear pattern on the surfaces of the teeth that cause fractures in the teeth.
Arthritis: In rare cases, bruxing may lead to arthritis in the joints that cause the jaw to open easily.
Myofascial pain: When grinding of the teeth causes the teeth to shorten, it leads to pain in the muscles and uncomfortable headaches.
Treatment
The cure for bruxism varies depending on the condition; below are common treatments for bruxism:
Mouthguards: Formulated fromtooth impressions to decrease the rough movement of tooth surfaces during sleep. Long-term usage of mouth guards are advised in order to avert tooth damage.
Botox® : When injected into the muscles, Botox® eases and assuages the grinding of the teeth.
NTI-tss device: This tool is tailored by a professional and encompasses only the front teeth. It aims to avert the gritting of the back molars by ceasing the shrinkage of the temporalis muscle.
Other methods: Relaxation exercises such as yoga and stress managing classes. Once the symptoms of bruxing are contained, crowns, gum grafts and crown lengthening will rebuild your beautiful smile.
DR HOSSEIN JAHANGIRI
General, Implant & Cosmetic Dentist, Clinical Director, SCFD & Portside Dentistry
