Table of contents
What is Bruxism?
Teeth grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism, is a condition that can lead to jaw pain, tooth damage, tooth sensitivity, and even a hole in tooth if enamel wears down over time. It can happen while you are awake and is usually subconscious. It more often happens during sleep.
Grinding and clenching your teeth occasionally isn’t unusual, and many people do this when they are under stress. However, if it becomes a habit, it can cause substantial damage to your teeth and jaws, resulting in damaged or loose teeth, jaw pain, and chronic headaches.
Bruxism can affect anyone at any age, including children, but it most often develops during adolescence and in younger adults.
Types of Bruxism
Teeth grinding and clenching can occur during sleep or while you are awake. The impact on your teeth and jaws is the same, but these are separate conditions.
- Sleep Bruxism
Sleep bruxism is a more destructive form of clenching and grinding than grinding your teeth wide-awake. Because you are asleep, you are unaware of this habit and may not realize it is occurring.
People with sleep bruxism may not be diagnosed with this condition unless they visit the dentist. Sometimes a sleeping partner will complain about the noise of teeth grinding.
If you have sleep bruxism, you will likely need treatment to try to break the habit and reduce its impact on your teeth and jaws.
- Awake Bruxism
If you grind your teeth while awake, you might not need treatment for bruxism. However, you will need to find ways to manage this condition more mindfully.
Since it can be linked to stress or anger, you will need to pay more attention to how you feel and use strategies to manage these feelings. Some people find it helpful to consciously relax their jaws or place their tongue between their upper and lower front teeth to prevent teeth grinding and clenching.
How Does Bruxism Affect Teeth?
When you clench and grind, it places your teeth under considerable pressure. Over time, your tooth enamel can begin to chip and wear down. Your teeth may begin to fracture and will look shorter than before.
Bruxism can cause gum recession, so you may notice your tooth roots become exposed. The pressure can cause teeth to loosen, and you might notice changes to your bite.
Symptoms of Bruxism
Bruxism doesn’t just affect your teeth; the pressure can also impact your jaw joints, also known as the temporomandibular joints. Over time, it can cause a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), where these joints become inflamed and increasingly painful.
Signs of bruxism can include:
- Chronic headaches, especially when you wake up in the mornings.
- Facial pain.
- Aching jaws and gums.
- Earache or tinnitus.
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
- Your jaw may make a clicking or popping sound when you try to move it.
What Can Cause Bruxism?
It’s not entirely certain what causes bruxism, but there are some risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing this condition. These can include:
- Anxiety and stress.Having depression or an anxiety disorder can increase the chances of developing bruxism.
- Taking certain medications. Some medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
- Lifestyle habits. People who drink a lot of caffeinated beverages or alcohol or who smoke tend to be more likely to grind their teeth compared to people with moderate habits.
- Sleep apnea.Many people with sleep apnea will also have bruxism, but it’s unclear as to whether one condition can cause the other, as the relationship isn’t yet fully understood.
Diagnosing Bruxism
Our dentists can easily diagnose signs of bruxism during a regular dental exam by checking the condition of your teeth for any signs of wear and tear caused by clenching and grinding. If we suspect you have bruxism, we will ask you about any symptoms you have experienced recently, such as jaw or facial pain, and may wish to conduct other tests.
These tests may include a cone beam CT scan, as this provides a clear image of your jaw joints and can be very useful in diagnosing signs of wear and tear and inflammation in your temporomandibular joints.
If we diagnose bruxism and suspect it is linked to sleep apnea, we may recommend you complete a sleep study. This takes place in a sleep centre, where your sleep is monitored overnight and can provide an accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea and its degree of severity.
Treating Bruxism
If you have awake bruxism and it is relatively mild, you may not require any dental treatment at this time. However, if your teeth and jaws are showing signs of damage and inflammation, there are various treatment options available.
- Custom-Made Mouthguard
A custom-made mouthguard or night splint will protect your teeth from the effects of teeth grinding, help reduce jaw pain, and prevent further dental issues such as tooth pain, tooth sensitivity, or a hole in tooth. It can also help reduce the stress and strain on your jaw joints, helping to treat TMJ symptoms.
- Botox Injections
In some cases, injections of botulinum toxin can be beneficial. Botox, when injected into the jaw muscles in small amounts, can help relax these muscles, reducing the symptoms of clenching and grinding, as well as jaw pain.
The results of these injections can last for several months before they need to be topped up. Some people find that these injections can help break the habit of bruxism and only require them in the short term.
- Lifestyle Modifications
If you are consuming too many caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, then cutting down can be helpful. If you currently smoke, then quitting could also help break the habit of bruxism and will benefit your oral and overall health as well.
- Reducing Stress Levels
When stress becomes an issue, it can be beneficial to consider strategies for managing it more effectively. This might mean taking more exercise, practising yoga or meditation, or considering cognitive behavioural therapy.
Restorative Dentistry
Bruxism can be very destructive, and you may need restorative dentistry to mend teeth damaged by this habit. The recommended treatments will depend on the degree of damage to your teeth and may include dental bonding and dental crowns.
If you do need restorative dentistry, then we must treat your bruxism first, as otherwise this habit would damage any new restorations.
Contact Us If You Think You Have Bruxism
Are you waking up with chronic headaches, an aching jaw, or noticing your teeth look chipped, cracked, or shorter than before? Contact us to schedule a dental exam with our friendly dental team at NYC Dentistry Center.
If you are concerned about bruxism and its effects on your teeth, NYC Dentistry Center in Midtown East offers advanced treatment options to manage teeth grinding. Call (212) 518-6096 or visit our dentistry center.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th St #801
New York, NY 10017
(45th St. btw 5th Ave / Madison Ave)
(212) 518-6096