Bruxism

The cause for bruxism is unknown. Factors that may contribute to the condition include stress, facial or oral trauma, nervous system malfunction, poor diet, and allergies. Alcohol and drug use also increase the occurrence of bruxism.

Children with bruxism usually stop grinding their teeth before adulthood. However, bruxism can affect adults for an indefinite period of time. Adults with bruxism have increased occurrence of grinding during times of stress (e.g., health-related, family-related, or job-related).

Bruxism causes tempromandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), in which the cartilage around the joints of the upper and lower jaws becomes irritated. This irritation can cause pain in the jaw and ears. Headaches associated with joint and muscle strain are common symptoms associated with bruxism.

The occlusal (meeting) surface of the upper and lower teeth can be ground down so much that an imbalance in closure between the left and right sides of the mouth is created, which can result in periodontal disease and structural stress to the tissues and roots of the teeth.

Like most sleep disorders, bruxism affects people other than those with the condition. The sound of teeth grinding can be quite loud and disruptive to bed partners or roommates. As a result, those who must cope with their partner's habitual grinding develop secondary symptoms, like poor sleep. In fact, it is often a partner or family member who detects bruxism.

A dentist usually detects or suspects bruxism when, during a routine checkup, he or she discovers the characteristic wear on the teeth. Wear associated with grinding is most evident on the molars, which are in the back of the mouth. The diagnosis is generally based on the patient's dental history and a dentist's careful reexamination.

There are two primary objectives in the treatment of bruxism: stress reduction and tooth care.

Relaxation therapies may reduce stress associated with habitual grinding. Meditation and body-calming activities are thought to reduce the psychological stress that seems to aggravate bruxism. Biofeedback training may reduce the occurrence of nocturnal grinding. Biofeedback programs train people to control their involuntary nervous system with learned responses to fluctuating body conditions. During a training session, a monitoring system emits sound to alert the patient to these fluctuations. Participants then learn to recreate states of relaxation, breathing patterns, and pulse rates that help them relax and achieve a calm emotional state.

Text F