What is bruxism?

Bruxism occurs when you grate or grind your teeth. Teeth grinding may arise due to prolonged anxiety or stress. In addition, sleep apnoea, snoring and prescription medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and excessive intake of alcohol and caffeine contribute to bruxism.

Bruxism can be categorised as either awake or asleep bruxism. Daytime teeth grinding is largely related to stress, anger or anxiety. Sleep bruxism causes unnecessary sleep chewing due to sudden arousal at night.

What are the signs?     

• Pain in the shoulder, neck and head
• Pain in the jaw, also known as temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
• Chipped or worn teeth due to excessive grinding
• Trouble sleeping
• Ear pain

How does Dr Patel check for bruxism?

Dr Patel will check for bruxism by looking for tender jaw muscles that have been strained due to teeth grinding. Chipped or missing teeth are an obvious sign of bruxism. Usually, X-ray imaging can help evaluate the damage to the underlying bone and the inside of the mouth.

How do you treat teeth grinding?

Treatment for bruxism aims to maintain the health of the teeth and prevent further damage to the enamel. Even though specific treatment measures may not stop teeth grinding, each treatment plan is designed to reduce the risk of chipped, cracked or stained teeth.

The following treatments exist for bruxism:

• Mouth guards/splints separate the teeth to prevent damage as a result of persistent grinding. A mouth guard or splint covers the lower and upper teeth and is made of soft materials or durable acrylic.
• Dental restorative methods involve resurfacing the chewing surfaces or installing crowns to restore the appearance of the teeth. In addition, Dr Patel will discuss restorative methods, depending on the extent of the damage, such as a root canal, dental implants, crowns, bridges and partial or complete dentures.

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