Teeth grinding or bruxism – how to recognise and treat bruxism

Grinding and clenching of the teeth, i.e. bruxism, is a very common, but insidious biting problem.

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, 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 and a neurologist in order to guarantee fast and high-quality treatment.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.

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

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.

If all else fails, ask your dentist about botulinum treatment. 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.