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Teeth Grinding
Also termed Bruxism

Bruxism is an ever growing occurrence in the modern world. ​

A large percentage of people who suffer from teeth grinding also suffer from sleep apnoea or sleep disordered breathing. It is important to have an assessment by an expert dentist trained in sleep medicine.

What Causes teeth grinding?

Lets get technical...

  1. Exercise/sports: rowing, water skiing, lifting weights, boxing, riding a motorcycle, or any sport where there is a bracing of the body.
     

  2. Psychological: anxiety, fear, tension, pleasure, aggression, anger, dreaming, stress
     

  3. Medical: sleep apnea, oral pain, or pain in other parts of the body.
     

  4. Drugs: caffeine, amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, haloperidol, and venlafaxine.
     

  5. Bioengineering factors: Bruxism can be easily initiated by a violation of bioengineering principles in the stomatognathic system, such as prematurities, off-loading of teeth, horizontal distraction of the mandible upon closure, and misalignment of the TMJ components

    .McCoy et al. 2007

What are the signs?

  1. Teeth will wear/flatten (flattened dentition)

  2. Teeth will move

  3. Chewing muscles are large in size (enlarged muscles of mastication)

  4. Tongue has striations/scalloping on the sides

  5. Snoring at night

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Do you wake up with soreness in the jaws or teeth? 

Treatment

  1. Anti-inflammatory gels, heat packs, jaw exercises
     

  2. An airway assessment and an advanced occlusal assessment
     

  3. A dental splint. Enquire about the 3D printed splints available at iconic smiles.
     

  4. Botox in masseters
     

  5. Removal of risk factors

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If you are struggling with teeth grinding or snoring at night, seek a consultation today. 

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