What is Bruxism (Clenching of the Teeth)?

Statistics show that about one out of four dental patients have one of the oldest maladies known to man - bruxism. Bruxism is the technical term for grinding of the teeth that soon removes critical portions of healthy enamel from the chewing surfaces of the teeth and may cause facial pain. Clenching is a common variation of bruxism and involves non-purposeful closing of teeth in the chewing position. Only a few of these patients are made aware of and treated for this condition before their dentition has been irreversibly destroyed requiring extensive restorative treatment or tooth extraction. Bruxism is a far more destructive process than decay. People who grind and clench, called bruxers, unintentionally bite down too hard at inappropriate times, such as in their sleep. In addition to grinding teeth, bruxers also may bite their fingernails, pencils and chew the inside of their cheek. People usually aren't diagnosed with bruxism until it is too late because so many people don't realize they have the habit. Others mistakenly believe that their teeth must touch at all times. Bruxism can easily be treated by a dentist.

Effects of Bruxism

People who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums can clench so often and so hard that over time their teeth become sensitive. They experience jaw pain, tense muscles and headaches along with excessive wear on their teeth. Forceful biting when not eating may cause the jaw to move out of proper balance. It can also cause stress fractures in the teeth, and chipping out of enamel at the gumline.

Signs of Bruxism

When a person has bruxism, the tips of the teeth look flat.Teeth are worn down so much that the enamel is rubbed off, exposing the inside of the tooth which is called dentin. When exposed, dentin may become sensitive. Bruxers may also experience pain, popping or clicking in their temporomandibular joint (TMJ) -the jaw. Women have a higher prevalence of Bruxism possibly because they are more likely to experience tissue alterations in the jaw resulting from clenching and grinding. Tongue indentations and notching of the teeth at teh gumline are other signs of clenching.

Causes of Bruxism

Stress often times is the cause of bruxism. For as long as humankind has existed, bruxism has commonly affected people with nervous tension. Anger, pain and frustration can trigger bruxing. People who are aggressive, competitive and hurried also may be at a greater risk for bruxism

Therapy (Night-Guard)

During regular dental visits, the dentist automatically checks for physical signs of bruxism. If the dentist or patient notices signs of bruxism, the condition may be observed over several visits to be sure of the problem before recommending and starting therapy. The objective of therapy is to get the bruxer to change behavior by learning how to rest the tongue, teeth and lips properly. When some people become aware of their problem,simply advising them to rest their tongue upward with teeth apart and lips shut may be enough to change their behavior and relieve discomfort. The dentist, however, can make a plastic mouth appliance, such as a NIGHT-GUARD or occlusal splint, that's worn to absorb the force of biting. It forms a barrier between the top and bottom teeth to stop the grinding of the two arches. The nightguard will receive the occlusal wear rather than the teeth. Therapy should be started as soon as the condition is diagnosed. This allows early noninvasive therapy with a nightguard instead of waiting until further tooth structure is destroyed, requiring more extensive care. This appliance can prevent future damage to the teeth and helps change the patient's destructive behavior. Biofeedback is used to treat daytime clenchers by using electronic instruments to measure muscle activity and to teach patients how to reduce muscle activity when the biting force becomes too great. Researchers are looking for other ways of treating bruxism, especially for those who tend to clench in their sleep. One researcher developed an experimental lip simulator that electrically stimulates the lip when a person bites down too hard while sleeping. That method, however, is being refined because the stimulation can wake sleepers several times in a night.