What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a medical condition in which people habitually grind or clench their teeth, and it happens most often during sleep.

Most of us grind our teeth occasionally to some extent, and mild bruxism may not require treatment. In some cases, though, teeth grinding can happen so often and severely that it results in headaches, dental damage, and jaw disorders.

Night bruxism – also called sleep bruxism or nocturnal bruxism – is a sleep disorder, and it often occurs alongside other sleep-related ailments. While teeth grinding commonly takes place while you’re asleep, it can happen while you’re awake too.

Night bruxism may be associated with sleep disruption such as that caused by sleep apnoea. Bruxism can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as anti-depressants.

Other possible causes of excessive teeth grinding include lifestyle issues such as:

• Alcohol consumption.
• Smoking.
• Recreational drugs.
• Too much caffeine – six or more cups of coffee or tea a day.

Bruxism Risk Factors

Some people may be at a greater risk of developing bruxism, including those who:

• Have an irregular bite.
• Experience spells of heightened stress or anxiety.
• Have a hyperactive or competitive personality.
• Have a family history of bruxism.

Bruxism has also been associated with mental health disorders and other medical conditions, including:

• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Night terrors.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).
• Sleep apnoea.

Symptoms of Bruxism

Many people don’t realise they have bruxism until they start to notice symptoms such as:

• Toothache.
• Loose teeth.
• Worn-down teeth.
• Chipped or cracked teeth.
• Tooth sensitivity.
• Dull headache, starting in the temples.
• Tight jaw muscles.
• Locked jaw resulting in difficulty opening or closing your mouth.
• Jaw or neck pain.
• Discomfort that feels like earache.
• Facial muscle pain.
• Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek.
• Sores on the tongue.
• Tender gums.

If you have night bruxism, your sleep partner may become aware of your teeth grinding habit. Otherwise, you may not realise there’s a problem until complications develop.

Bruxism Complications

In most cases, bruxism doesn’t cause serious issues, but severe bruxism can result in complications such as:

• Damage to teeth or dental work.
• Tension headaches.
• Acute pain in the face or jaw.

Bruxism and Sleep Apnoea

You may be grinding your teeth because you have another sleep-related issue – obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Or it could be the other way round. OSA results in recurring pauses in breathing as airways narrow during sleep. This can starve the brain and the rest of the body of oxygen, and you momentarily wake up gasping and spluttering. The exact connection between bruxism and sleep apnoea remains unclear. However, many research studies have found that the number of people with both bruxism and sleep apnoea is higher than expected.

Sleep scientists believe that bruxism may:

• Trigger sleep apnoea – signals from the nervous system that lead to teeth grinding can also result in breathing problems.
• Be a result of sleep apnoea – a response to the interruptions in breathing caused by OSA.

Sleep Apnoea Symptoms
Sleep disruption caused by OSA can result in symptoms such as:

• Headaches.
• Persistent fatigue.
• Feeling short-tempered or miserable.
• Difficulty concentrating.

Bruxism and TMD

Bruxism is in some cases related to the painful condition of TMD – temporomandibular joint disorder. Teeth grinding can either trigger TMD or make an existing jaw disorder worse. This happens because dental damage from severe bruxism can change your bite function by forcing teeth out of position. When upper and lower teeth don’t meet properly, facial muscles can shift temporomandibular joints out of their sockets, causing jaw misalignment leading to TMD.

TMD Symptoms
Symptoms of TMD are very similar to those of bruxism:

• Frequent headaches.
• Pain or soreness in the jaw, neck or face.
• Difficulty opening or closing your mouth.
• Pain in and around the ear.

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