Understanding Bruxism: When Your Teeth Work Overtime

Bruxism—the medical term for teeth grinding and jaw clenching—affects most people at some point in their lives. This oral habit involves two main behaviors: grinding your teeth together and clenching your jaw muscles, which can happen during the day or while you sleep.

As one of the most prevalent sleep disorders, bruxism causes the majority of its damage during nighttime hours. In people without this condition, the chewing reflex naturally shuts down during sleep. However, for those who suffer from bruxism, the brain's reflex nerve control center switches off during deep sleep or even naps, causing the reflex pathways to become overactive.

How Bruxism Affects Your Teeth and Jaw

During bruxing episodes, your front teeth (incisors and canines) typically grind against each other in a side-to-side motion. This lateral grinding action places excessive strain on your medial pterygoid muscles and temporomandibular joints (TMJ).

The effects extend far beyond your mouth. Common symptoms include earaches, depression, headaches, eating difficulties, and anxiety. Bruxism often accompanies chronic stress and may be associated with conditions like Alzheimer's disease and alcohol abuse.

Why Bruxism Often Goes Undiagnosed

Many cases of bruxism are misdiagnosed or missed entirely because tooth wear can result from several different causes. Only a trained dental professional can distinguish between damage from teeth grinding and wear caused by aggressive brushing, acidic beverages, or abrasive foods.

At-Home Diagnosis with BiteStrip® The BiteStrip® offers an economical way to diagnose bruxism from the comfort of your home. This small electromyography device monitors jaw muscle activity during sleep, allowing us to assess both the frequency and severity of your condition. With this information, we can develop the most effective treatment plan for your specific needs.

Why Treating Bruxism Matters

Addressing bruxism promptly is crucial for several important reasons:

Protecting Your Gums and Teeth Bruxism ranks among the leading causes of gum recession and tooth loss. The condition damages soft tissues directly while also loosening teeth and creating deep pockets where harmful bacteria can thrive and destroy the supporting bone structure.

Preventing Dental Fractures The abnormal wear patterns on your chewing surfaces can lead to tooth fractures, potentially requiring extensive restorative treatment to repair the damage.

Avoiding Joint Problems In severe, long-term cases, chronic grinding can progress to painful arthritis in your temporomandibular joints—the hinges that allow your jaw to open and close smoothly.

Relieving Muscle Pain The constant grinding associated with bruxism gradually shortens and wears down your teeth. This change can trigger muscle pain in the jaw and face area, often leading to debilitating headaches.

Treatment Options: Finding Relief

While there's no single cure for bruxism, several effective devices and approaches can help manage the condition:

Custom Mouthguards We can create a custom acrylic mouthguard from impressions of your teeth to minimize the abrasive contact between tooth surfaces during sleep. These guards should be worn consistently long-term to prevent tooth damage, protect your temporomandibular joints, and help stabilize your bite.

NTI-tss Device This professionally fitted device covers only your front teeth and works by preventing rear molar grinding through limiting the contraction of your temporalis muscle. It's designed to interrupt the grinding pattern while maintaining comfort.

Botox® Injections Botox® can be strategically injected into the jaw muscles to relax and weaken them. This treatment offers an excellent solution for bruxism because it reduces muscle strength enough to prevent grinding while preserving your ability to chew and speak normally.

Additional Treatment Approaches

Beyond these primary treatments, other beneficial methods include:

• Relaxation exercises to reduce overall tension
• Stress management education to address underlying triggers
• Biofeedback mechanisms to increase awareness of jaw clenching habits

Restoring Your Smile

Once we have your bruxing under control, various dental procedures can restore both function and aesthetics to your smile. Options may include crowns, gum grafts, and crown lengthening procedures, all designed to return your teeth to their optimal appearance and health.

Taking action against bruxism not only protects your oral health but can also significantly improve your overall quality of life by reducing pain and preventing further dental complications.