Beating The Grind: What To Do About BruxismBy Nicole Stevenson [Health & Your Life]
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 If you do come to realize you are bruxing in your sleep, it is an indication that your bruxism is severe enough to require some form of treatment. It’s important to protect your teeth rather than leave bruxism untreated. The most common form of treatment—besides prevention methods like counselling and relaxation—is the use of a dental appliance such as a mouth guard or splint. Usually made of a hard acrylic, these appliances can be custom fitted to your teeth and may go over the bottom teeth, the top teeth or just the top two front teeth. Having this appliance in place will make grinding your teeth impossible and clenching your jaw much more difficult, thus saving your poor teeth from wearing down. If the problem causes extensive damage, your dentist may decide to reshape your bite with crowns. Some doctors also recommend taking muscle relaxants before bed to reduce the tension in the jaw muscles and Botox may be used as a last resort in severe cases. If bruxism is a problem for you, practise resting your tongue upwards, with your teeth apart and your lips closed, as this can help change your behaviour in order to stop bruxing during the day and possibly even during sleep. To reduce the pain bruxism can cause, use ice or a warm wet facecloth on sore jaw muscles, avoid foods that are difficult to chew (like candy), stretch the face and jaw muscles throughout the day and massage neck, shoulder and face muscles. Complications Though the extent of the damage bruxism can cause is usually limited to sore facial muscles and worn down teeth, complications may arise. Dental damage is the most obvious complication, as untreated bruxism may make teeth painful and loose and can destroy the surrounding bone and gums. It can lead to problems eating, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, headaches, insomnia or ear problems due to pain referring from the jaw. Several factors can affect your bruxism including the alignment of your teeth, your general stress level, your sleeping habits and even your posture, but by making regular visits to the dentist and paying attention to any symptoms, you can prevent a relatively easily treatable disorder from causing serious damage. Sources: Mayo Clinic Colgate.ca University of Virginia Medline Plus |
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