7 Ways to Treat Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)

Have you ever woken up to your teeth grinding against each other, or perhaps your bed partner has said a thing about grinding your teeth while sleeping? If so, you might have bruxism. According to general dentistry, bruxism is an involuntary disorder of grinding and clenching your teeth while asleep or awake. Bruxism is more common at night when sleeping.
When left untreated, bruxism can present numerous effects and complications such as headaches, enamel erosion, jaw pain, tooth loss, and tooth damage such as chips, cracks, and breaks. Unfortunately, the underlying cause of bruxism can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Patients who aren’t aware of this problem may be at significant risk since they cannot notice and stop the behavior. Most patients only complain about waking up feeling achy in their jaw or head. If you’re suspicious that you have bruxism, it’s vital to find help as soon as possible to prevent the associated effects.
While it’s difficult to diagnose the cause of bruxism, there are treatment options you can use to manage or eliminate it and its effects. These include:

• Make lifestyle changes.

Among other factors, lifestyle choices can cause bruxism. For instance, individuals with high usage of tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and antidepressants are likely to suffer from bruxism. Fortunately, limiting or avoiding these substances can eliminate the problem.

• Stress and anxiety management

According to studies, approximately 70% of cases of bruxism are from anxiety and stress. Managing stress, anxiety, anger, and other negative emotions can ease or eliminate bruxism. Practical strategies to manage negative emotions include:

• Yoga and meditation
• Get support services such as therapy
• Aerobic exercises such as running, cycling, and dancing

• Jaw massage and exercises

Simple jaw exercises such as relaxing your face, massaging your jaw muscles, and using hot packs to the jaw will release any tension and relax your jaw. It prevents your jaw from clenching while sleeping.

• Mouth Guards

With time, teeth grinding and clenching can cause teeth damage such as enamel damage, chips, and cracks. It makes your mouth susceptible to plaque and bacterial infection, eventually leading to cavities, gum disease, and oral infections. To minimize the effects of bruxism on the teeth, your dentist can recommend getting a mouthguard.
Wearing a mouthguard prevents teeth from grinding against each other, reducing the adverse effects of bruxism. Custom-made guards are more effective, and comfortable, and better protection than over-the-counter readymade guards. Please note that mouthguards won’t treat the underlying condition. It only prevents teeth damage.

• Muscle relaxants

You can unwind any tension built up in your jaw muscles throughout the day using muscle relaxants just before sleeping. You can get prescribed muscle relaxants from your dentist to prevent bruxism. It’s worth noting that muscle relaxants cause you to relax and therefore aren’t suitable for daytime use as they can impair certain activities such as driving. At-home muscle relaxation techniques include having a warm bath before bed, drinking herbal but caffeine-free tea, and applying a warm wet towel or heating pad to your jaw.

• Botox injections

Botox injections can help weaken the jaw muscles and prevent involuntary teeth clenching and grinding. When injected, Botox limits the mobility of the jaw muscles, which are responsible for teeth grinding. It’s worth noting that this treatment is for extreme cases of bruxism.

• Treat associated conditions

A cause of Bruxism can be underlying medical conditions such as sleep apnea, crossbites, certain antidepressants, overcrowding, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and down syndrome. Addressing these conditions can help improve or eliminate bruxism. If you have these conditions, consult your dentist about effective treatment options.

Final Verdict

While the underlying cause of bruxism might be challenging to diagnose, these treatment options can help manage the condition and reduce any associated adverse effects. For more information about bruxism treatment, contact KK Dental – North Brunswick to speak with our dentist in North Brunswick. Our dental team will establish an effective treatment option that suits you the best.