Bruxism: What are the signs of teeth grinding and how to stop it

A study published by the Journal of Clinical Medicine revealed that cases of bruxism multiplied during the pandemic. This same study points out that one of the main causes of this rise in cases is the increased levels of stress and anxiety experienced during this time. Although bruxism is often related to stress or anxiety, there are other causes that lead to suffering from this condition. If you want to know what all these causes are, how it can manifest itself and how to stop bruxism, we invite you to read on.

What is bruxism?

The term bruxism is the technical word for teeth grinding, gnashing or clenching. It is an involuntary reaction to anger, fear or stress, even if the person isn’t responding to immediate emotions. Bruxism can happen during the day in a more common form of jaw clenching (awake bruxism) or during the night (sleep bruxism) where the grinding action takes more protagonism.

Mild cases might not require treatment, yet those who frequently clench and apply too much stress could develop severe jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth, as well as other problems. If this is happening at night whilst you sleep, you might not realise it until you start to have complications. So, it is crucial to know the signs and understand the bruxism symptoms.

Types of bruxism

There are two classifications for bruxism that doctors call primary or secondary. Primary bruxism is not related to underlying medical or dental conditions. In contrast, secondary means that medications or medical conditions are the cause you to grind your teeth and clench your jaw. Both primary and secondary bruxism can be experienced while asleep or awake.

If you suffer from awake bruxism you might become aware of your jaw clenching, or the action could be semi-voluntary. Dentists and doctors sometimes correlate the clenching to high levels of stress. This form is relatively common and affects roughly a fifth of all adults. In this form, clenching can gradually become worse throughout the day.

The effects of day clenching can increase your risk of excessive teeth grinding at night. People with this issue aren't usually aware of the risk factors associated with the condition. Detection is often missed until the teeth have been damaged or symptoms have appeared. The consequences of grinding your teeth at night are worse in the morning, right after waking up, although the effects may decrease.

What are the causes of bruxism?

Bruxism can be caused by a combination of physical, psychological and genetic factors. There are many external inputs that cause the teeth to grind. In most cases it happens due to anxiety, stress, anger, frustration, or tension. Some people do it as a subconscious coping strategy or habit while deep in concentration.

Bruxism can also be a sleep-related movement disorder and appears to be connected to changing sleep patterns or micro-arousals from sleep as teeth grinding during the night is usually preceded by increased brain or cardiovascular activity.

What are the symptoms of bruxism?

The most common signs of teeth grinding manifest in the form of jaw pain, headaches or even earaches. There are various negative effects on your mouth and jaw. With continued grinding, the pain will start to affect your teeth until these become painful, eroded and in some cases become fragile to movement. Some of the most common symptoms of bruxism are:

• Facial pain
• Headaches
• Earache
• Pain and stiffness in the jaw joint
• Worn-down teeth

How to prevent teeth grinding?

The methods to prevent your teeth from grinding are not a one size fits all approach. As each case is different you should seek help from a professional to understand your situation although you can begin by incorporating common healthy habits in your daily life. In general terms, there are a few steps you can take to help reduce your symptoms. They are:

• Reducing stress levels
• Avoiding caffeinated drinks before bed
• Practising good sleep habits
• Scheduling regular dental exams

Treatments of bruxism: How can I stop grinding my teeth?

Although it is difficult to completely stop bruxism, there are some ways to minimise it’s impact, reduce it’s frequency and relieve symptoms. . These vary from natural methods like stress-relief or releasing tension in the head and neck muscles to human-made devices, like mouthguards or dental splints.

The most effective way to minimize the impact of teeth grinding are the devices mentioned above, since they drastically reduce harm to the teeth and soften the pressure from the jaw clenching. These can be made to measure or bought over the counter, always following the advice of a medical professional in each case.

Generally, you can find some types of devices that will reduce bruxism symptoms whether it is happening whilst awake or asleep:

• The most common treatment is the use of occlusal splints, also known as bite guards. These are used to treat jaw problems and disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
• Another option is using whitening splints that will inevitably protect your tooth enamel as well as reduce the impact from jaw clenching whilst you brighten up your smile.
  
• Dental or clear aligners have become a popular option during recent years due to the possibility of reducing bruxism impact and also correcting one’s smile with invisible orthodontics. These are removable and in some cases even include a whitening process that will cause an even better sensation once the treatment is finished.
  
• Dental retainers, commonly used after an orthodontic treatment to maintain the new positions of the teeth, also help reduce the impact of bruxism by relaxing the jaw muscles and stopping the teeth grinding.
•  There are other types of splints that include mandibular advancement devices (MAD) which work by stabilizing the mouth and jaw in a specific position to prevent the clenching and grinding from happening.
  

Orthodontics and teeth grinding

Some of the causes for bruxism may lie in the alignment or position of the teeth, which are solved by applying constant pressure over time to move the teeth in the desired direction. It is important to note that the bone holding the teeth changes shape as the teeth move.

If you have been advised by your personal dentist or doctor that you should wear dental aligners as a bruxism treatment, you can contact Impress and book your initial consultation.

At Impress we are a team of professional orthodontists led by Dr Khaled Kasem. We want to be at the forefront of medical innovation and our goal is to create a community of satisfied patients who are confident with their results. If you want to know more about Impress or book your initial consultation, you can contact us by phone / WhatsApp at +44 20 3808 1072 or filling out this online form.

Frequently asked questions about bruxism

How long does teeth grinding pain last?

Grinding pain can be chronic or acute depending on how long you grind your teeth. If you experience pain in the morning the severity will decline throughout the day, but you may still experience dull pain at all times. However, you can take preventive measures to decrease the damage done to your teeth from grinding them.

Can bruxism be cured?

At the moment, there is no cure for this condition. However, we can take actions to reduce the frequency with which you grind and clench your jawbones.

Can grinding your teeth cause headaches?

Yes. In addition to wearing out your jawbones and causing tooth harm, severe symptoms of excessive grinding can include headaches.

Can bruxism cause nerve damage?

Yes, it affects facial bones, muscles and nerves but especially the teeth, so in a case where there is too much pressure on a tooth, the nerves can become irritated.

Does magnesium help with bruxism?

Magnesium is useful for stress management therefore it can certainly reduce unwanted clenching and grinding in your mouth if you are doing this due to stress. However, it is important to note that magnesium must be taken under prescription and always following the doctor's instructions.

Can bruxism cause ear problems?

Yes, over time the damage caused to your facial bones can lead to ear problems but it is only in severe cases it can lead to ringing in the ears, more commonly known as Tinnitus.

Is bruxism hereditary?

Although bruxism is not always hereditary, doctors agree and evidence suggests that it runs in families. Hereditary bruxism is usually caused by increased cortisol levels in families. Other conditions that cause bruxism, such as stress, it’s unlikely that you have hereditary teeth grinding.