Sleep is a sacred time for us all, and no one is willing to give up their precious hours of rest for uncomfortable and painful jaw problems. Nighttime teeth grinding is a bothersome condition that affects a considerable portion of kids and a lesser portion of adults. Although it is not as excruciating as other dental conditions, it can cause great discomfort.
Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine defines the condition as repetitive jaw muscle activity that causes the teeth to grind, clench or gnash. Teeth grinding is listed under sleep-related movement disorders. These are a group of conditions where one suffers repeated and stereotypical movement while they are sleeping.
Bruxism is not only limited to sleep; there are two types: sleep Bruxism and awake Bruxism.
What does grinding your teeth in your sleep mean?
This is essentially the layman’s term for sleep Bruxism. In this condition, you might catch yourself abnormally moving and contracting your jaw muscles, causing abnormal movements to your teeth in the form of gnashing, clenching or grinding. It is an unconscious movement, meaning that you can’t consciously control the movement, as it is coming from your subconscious.
What causes nighttime teeth grinding?
Nighttime teeth grinding can be caused by multiple factors. It is important for both you and your healthcare provider to pin down the exact cause, although, unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. Teeth grinding can be divided into primary and secondary causes. Primary type means that there is no underlying cause to produce the grinding, meaning that it’s something steaming from your genes. Maybe it is a trait that got passed down from a family relative. On the other hand, in the secondary type, there is an identifiable cause; these can include
- Stress and anxiety: check your current mood and mental health, as stress can put a lot of pressure on your subconscious, which can make itself present by teeth grinding. In this case, try alleviating the stress or maybe get psychological help for the anxiety.
- Smoking: high levels of nicotine found in your cigarette can be the key culprit. Nicotine stimulates the brain to increase the signals sent to your muscles. This, in turn, increases the jaw muscle contraction, causing Bruxism.
- Alcohol and caffeine: these two substances also encourage your jaw muscles to contract and grind.
- Drugs and medications: some drugs that you take might be the cause; these include antipsychotics, muscle relaxants and antidepressants.
Can sleep position causes teeth grinding?
Care should be taken in regard to sleep position. Although a certain position will not cause teeth grinding on its own, it can worsen a pre-existing Bruxism. Examples of notorious sleep positions are lying flat on the stomach and on a side with a hand under the pillow. These put unnecessary pressure on the jaw and cause malalignment of the spine. Sleeping on your back is the optimum position, as it straightens the spine and relaxes the jaw muscle.
What are the signs of teeth grinding?
Constant pressure and contraction of your jaw muscles can manifest themselves in a variety of ways.
- Teeth: Constant pressure on your teeth from muscle contraction can produce a wide variety of aesthetic and functional problems
- The teeth can be cracked, chipped or fractured, which can be bothersome in appearance.
- Tooth enamel, which is the outermost layer of the teeth, can be worn out, exposing the inner two layers, leading to infection.
- Pain: wearing out of the enamel can expose the inner nerve endings. These can be irritated by the contraction pressure, sending unnecessary signals to the brain, which is perceived as pain
- Jaw: constantly putting pressure can cause
- Square jaw: the muscles become stronger and larger due to the constant contraction, giving a characteristic squared jaw
- Muscle fatigues: Constant contraction can cause the muscle to tire out.
- Head and Face
- Constant headache and facial pain.
- Changes in the shape of the gum and tongue
How to prevent nighttime teeth grinding?
Pinning down the exact cause of teeth grinding can be the important first step on the road to alleviating this constant pain. After pinning down the cause, you should start looking for solutions according to each problem
- Stress and anxiety: in this fast-paced world we’re living in, stressors are constantly present in our environment. Try alleviating unnecessary stress as much as possible. This can be achieved in a myriad of holistic ways, including meditation and yoga. Try reducing your screen time and drink stress reducing herbs as camomile. These natural and non invasive methods can dramatically decrease the teeth grinding. As for anxiety, resorting to a psychiatrist is always a great step. They can help by a plethora of ways, including behavioural cognitive therapy. This kills two birds with one stone, as it helps in managing anxiety and reducing teeth grinding.
- Check your diet: as mentioned above, many triggers are ubiquitous in everyday diet. Bruxism can be the straw that makes you quit smoking. In addition, try limiting caffeinated drinks and drink them a couple of hours away from bedtime. You can also try replacing coffee and tea with a better alternative as matcha. As for the alcohol, reduce it to a minimum.
- Jaw massages: these can relax the jaw muscles and help in releasing the tension from them. This, in turn, will reduce the pain around the jaw, the headache and the constant feeling of fatigue.
- Mouth guards: these are called occlusal splints and are made of acrylic. These are removable devices that are put during sleep time. They fit between your upper and lower jaw, preventing excessive grinding and movement.
- Botox: this can be used as a last resort. Injection of Botox will cause the muscles to paralyze, losing their ability to contract excessively.
How do you permanently stop bruxism?
Unfortunately, there is no definitive treatment for Bruxism. Although various methods, as mentioned above, can aid in reducing it, there is no cure.
In the end, Teeth grinding can be a bothersome condition to live with. Pointing out the causes and finding root treatments can be of the utmost importance. Tired of disturbed sleep due to teeth grinding? Immediately book a consultation at DentSpa, where our professionals can provide you with valuable advice and solutions.
Read more
- Invisalign VS Braces – Which Is Better?
- Your Guide to Understanding and Managing Impacted Tooth
- Radiant Smiles: Your Guide to Dental Braces in Turkey
- How Your City Choice Impacts Dental Care in Turkey
- How A Smile Makeover Treatment Can Ruin Your Smile
- Crooked Teeth: Causes, Its Influence and Treatment Options
- What You Should Know About Smoking After Tooth Extraction
- Perfect Your Smile with Digital Smile Design
- What Can You Do About Sensitive Teeth?
- Discover Dental Implants in Turkey
- Clear Aligners vs Orthodontic Braces
- Facial Cosmetics with Botox and Fillers