Teeth grinding or bruxism – how to recognise and treat bruxism
Teeth grinding or bruxism is a condition that many people do not know they suffer from. If your jaw hurts, your head or shoulders ache often, or fillings are loose, you may be grinding and tensing your muscles. Visit the dentist – effective help is available!
Teeth grinding or bruxism in a nutshell
- Bruxism is when you either rhythmically grind your teeth or tightly tense your bite muscles. Bruxism can occur at night or during the day.
- The grinding is mainly nocturnal bruxism. The tensing of the bite muscles can occur both at night and during the day.
- Bruxism causes a wide range of symptoms, such as tooth damage, sore bite muscles or headaches.
- One way to help with bruxism is to learn to relax your facial muscles. Nocturnal grinding is treated with a bite guard to protect your teeth.
During the dental check-up, you will get an assessment of the health of your mouth and teeth from the dentist, as well as a recommendation for further measures. A dental check-up is a painless examination, and there is no need to do any treatment in connection with it.
Book an appointment for a dental check-upMassaging the masticatory muscles can relax tense states of the masticatory muscles caused by crunching and tensing the masticatory muscles and ease the pain caused by them.
Book an appointment for massage of masticatory musclesTeeth grinding is a difficult condition to detect
The symptoms of teeth grinding are not immediately associated with bruxism.
Teeth grinding – symptoms:
- pain in the jaw muscles or jaw joints
- jaw popping and other sounds in the jaw joints
- your mouth does not open properly
- ulcers on the oral mucosa and pain
- headache
- facial pain
- earache and tinnitus
- stiff muscles and neck or shoulder pain
- dizziness
- tooth damage, chipped teeth and inflammation of dental pulp
Many people learn they suffer from bruxism only when a dentist detects it during a dental check-up or if a person sleeping next to them points out their nocturnal grinding – because it makes an unpleasant noise.
Not only does the pain make you feel miserable, but the grinding wears down your teeth and puts a strain on your bite. If you have any of these symptoms, visit the clinic to talk about it.
You can book an appointment with a dentist, (Ohjaus) who, if necessary, will refer you to a dental specialist in bite physiology or prostology.
Pain in the facial area can also be treated in cooperation with an otologist (Ohjaus?) and a neurologist (Ohjaus?) in order to guarantee fast and high-quality treatment.
What is bruxism?
Teeth grinding is common – almost everyone grinds their teeth sometimes. You should seek treatment if your symptoms are affecting your daily life, you need to take pain medication, your teeth are worn, or you have facial pain or in the head area.
There are two forms of bruxism:
- Nocturnal bruxism
Either you grind your teeth, i.e. rub them against each other, or you tense your bite muscles by grinding your teeth together or separately. You may also do both.
Your dentist will detect if you have a habit of grinding your teeth at night. If you've suffered from bruxism for a long time, your bite muscles may also have grown - just like your muscles at the gym. Other symptoms of grinding include signs of tooth wear, chewing blisters on your cheeks or chipped teeth. - Daytime bruxism
You tense your bite muscles with your teeth together or apart.
Bruxism can also cause TMD symptoms, i.e. pain and dysfunction in the jaw joints, bite muscles and teeth. For example, you may suffer from jaw fatigue, stiffness and pain.
Bruxism – treatment at a dentist
What can help with teeth grinding? Visit a dentist.
Initially, the dentist will talk with you to find out about your background. They will examine your bite carefully: whether your teeth are worn down, how your muscles are feeling, whether the lining of your mouth and tongue show signs of bruxism - for example, there may be bite marks on your cheeks that tell you that you are straining your muscles.
Your dentist will also ask you about any risk factors for bruxism, such as medications, medical conditions and any psychological stress.
If you tense your bite muscles while awake, the first and most important treatment is to become aware of your habit and learn to relax your bite muscles. Your dentist will be able to advise you on this.
If your problem is nocturnal grinding, a mouth guard can help.
- A mouth guard may help the masticatory muscles relax and protect the teeth from wear caused by grinding.
- A mouth guard is used at night on the upper teeth. You'll get used to it quickly, and it won't interfere with your sleep.
- The horseshoe-shaped mouth guard is made individually for you from acrylic plastic.
If you suffer from TMD symptoms caused by bruxism, you can get relief from TMD symptoms by, among other things:
- self-massage
- masticatory muscle therapy performed by a physiotherapist or other modes of physiotherapy
- acupuncture
- voice massage
Teeth grinding – home care
Stress management and relaxation techniques are home treatments for bruxism. Remember to lead a healthy lifestyle - so avoid alcohol and tobacco, and do exercise you enjoy.
Also cut down on chewing gum.
Bruxism - does botox help?
If all else fails, ask your dentist about botulinum treatment. (Ohjaus sopivaan sisältöön) In layman's terms, botox is the best-known brand of botulinum.
- Botulinum makes you feel better and reduces the size of your bite muscles.
- Botulinum is inserted into the muscles of the biceps with a short needle.
- The effect of botulinum treatment lasts for 2–6 months.
- Some people need botulinum regularly, while others need just one injection to avoid the need for further injections.
Service | Mobile Benefit price | Hinta-arvio |
---|---|---|
Dental check-up | 51.00 € Without Kela reimbursement 81.00 € | |
Dental check-up for patients with dental fear | 88.00 € Without Kela reimbursement 118.00 € | |
Lasten ja nuorten hammastarkastus Hinnat sisältävät poliklinikkamaksun (33,90 €). Varaa lasten ja nuorten hammastarkastus Prices 165.75–232.75 €, without Kela reimbursement 185.90–252.90 € | from 165.75 € Without Kela reimbursement from 185.90 € | |
Dental X-ray of the teeth and jaws | Mobile Benefit 95.00 € The price with a doctor's referral after Kela compensation is €80. | 106.00 € Without Kela reimbursement 115.00 € |
Tartar removal 30–45 minute appointment with a dental hygienist. Prices 126.00–171.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 134.00–189.00 € | from 126.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 134.00 € | |
Dental fillings 1–3 surfaces. Prices 91.00–253.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 101.00–276.00 € | from 91.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 101.00 € | |
Ceramic filling of the tooth 1–3 surfaces. Prices 271.00–693.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 271.00–750.00 € | from 271.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 271.00 € | |
Dental ceramic crown Laboratory costs are not included in the price estimate. Prices 598.00–755.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 598.00–755.00 € | from 598.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 598.00 € | |
Chipped tooth Prices 91.00–253.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 101.00–276.00 € | from 91.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 101.00 € | |
Tooth extraction Prices 105.00–709.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 115.00–771.00 € | from 105.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 115.00 € | |
Tooth whitening Price estimate given at the free consultation appointment. Prices 95.00–436.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 95.00–436.00 € | from 95.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 95.00 € | |
Whitening consultation appointment Includes an individual price estimate for teeth whitening. | Free Kela reimbursement deducted from the price | |
Anaesthesia Prices 36.00–37.00 €, without Kela reimbursement 39.00–40.00 € | from 36.00 € Without Kela reimbursement from 39.00 € |