Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with your teeth clenched so tight that you thought they might break? Does your jaw feel so sore in the morning that you imagine you that you must have slept with your head on a rock instead of a pillow? Do you often wake up with headaches? Then you may have bruxism. No, it’s not fatal, but it can be very damaging to your teeth, your jaw and your sleep.
Bruxism involves one of more of: grinding, gnashing, clenching or gritting the teeth. It is fairly common behavior on an occasional basis. But for some, this grinding of the teeth is severe — causing pain, tooth damage and even leading to unpleasant shakes or kicks in the middle of the night from anyone who may be trying to sleep in the same room with you.
What Causes it?
Bruxism may be caused by cooked teeth, an abnormal bite or stress. Your cheek muscles, the ones that are engaged during clenching or grinding, are actually some of the strongest muscles in your body — and you’re using both of them. So, they can exert tremendous pressure on your jaw and teeth. That’s bad news for your mouth if you don’t get it under control.
How Common Is it?
Some studies suggest that perhaps 1 in 3 suffer, with about 10% of “bruxers” having severe bruxism to the point of doing major damage that over time, untreated, will reduce their teeth to nubs and require reconstructive surgery. If that seems a little extreme, then note that the other 90% will still likely have side effects like:
- loosened teeth
- losing teeth
- tooth fracture
- wearing away of teeth/enamel
- receding gums
- dull pain in the jaw
- recurring headaches
- tooth pain
- damage to the jaw joints
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for bruxism. But there are various treatments that you can try at home to help reduce the severity of your bruxism.
Find ways to reduce stress
Up to 70% of Bruxism is caused from stress. When we are under stress, we can develop repetitive actions over which we have limited control. Clenching/Grinding teeth can be one of these actions. Getting rid of stress is easier said that done. Getting more exercise, meditating, sitting quietly before bed, calming “inner dialogue” with positive thoughts, having a calm conversation with friends can all help reduce stress. Stress and Anxiety are very damaging to the body. While we may not be able to remove the source of stress, we can help our bodies better process it.
Avoid Coffee/Tea/Chocolate/Soft drinks before bed
Each of these have caffeine. Caffeine stays in our body much longer than we think. Depending on quantity and strength, it could still be affecting us several hours later — long after the alertness or energy has faded. Caffeine increases stress in our bodies, so cutting the caffeine long before bedtime will help reduce bruxing.
Massage your jaw
This is known to relieve some of the pain caused by bruxing, but can also help the muscles relax before bed. Pressing two fingers in circular motions down the side of your jaw and cheeks for several minutes right before bed can help the area relax.
Get a mouth guard
If you think you may be doing damage, you should get a mouth guard sooner rather than later. It may be uncomfortable at first, but you will quickly get used to it. You can get a custom mouth guard at our office that is quite a bit more comfortable because they fit your unique mouth. The mouth guard provides a cushion of soft plastic for you to bite into rather than your teeth, but may not actually reduce the action. Make your appointment today!
Visit your dentist
If your bruxism may be caused by crooked teeth or a misalignment, you will want to talk to your dentist to see what other options you may have. Braces may be a good option to help stop the damage being done. If you think braces are just for kids, think again. Here are 5 celebrities who wore adult braces. Your dentist will help you find the right solution.