Bruxism Information
According to research* about 8% of the UK population suffer from this little known condition, that can have a devastating affect on teeth and health. Bruxism is the medical term for grinding and/or clenching of the teeth, usually whilst sleeping. It is an involuntary action and nobody knows for sure what causes it and why some people appear to be pre-disposed to it. The impact on teeth and general health can be severe, including damage to teeth, morning headaches, TMJ, Jaw, neck and shoulder pain as well as many others symptoms.
Interest and awareness of Bruxism in the UK is relatively low compared to the US but that is changing. More and more GP`s and dentists are looking for signs that point to bruxism and are looking for products and advice to help patients protect their teeth and health. Typically, a dentist will fit a custom guard, that requires at least two visits to the surgery for fitting but it can be unaffordable for many and may not be appropriate in some circumstances
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Bruxism Symptoms
Like all medical conditions, there can be many and varied symptoms and causes for bruxism, some of which are not mentioned here. The information provided should not be taken as a substitute for professionally qualified advice from your doctor or healthcare practitioner and they should be consulted before embarking on any treatment programs.
Early morning headaches are a common side effect of teeth grinding and clenching during sleep. The enormous forces generated by the chewing muscles can create tension in the jaw joint and musculature which is released when waking up. This release can cause the jaw muscles to go into spasm and generate an immediate headache, which is sometimes severe.
The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the body. It connects the bone in the side of the skull with the jaw bone. It is surrounded by a complex network of nerves and muscles. Clenching and grinding during sleep generates huge forces in the jaw area which can wear down the TMJ cartilage disk. The consequences can be jaw pain as muscles go into spasm and pain from the TMJ joint itself. Patients suffering from bruxism and not realizing it, may feel that the pain is coming from the ear and seek treatment for ear ache or infection from their GP.
Constant grinding of the teeth during the day and night can wear down the teeth, sometimes down to the dentine. Grinding and clenching can also cause other teeth damage, including loosen of fillings and dislocation of crowns and other dental work.
Living with Kate was not much fun, at least not during the night. Student friends refused to share a tent with her when camping and boyfriends made a hasty retreat as soon as they heard Kate grinding her teeth. Luckily, one boyfriend, a fisherman who was used to sleeping next to the boat’s engine on North Sea fishing trips, stayed around for a while, but the noise was unbearable, even for him.
Sleep disturbance from snoring is well know, but there is a lack of awareness of the effects of grinding teeth at night, which, as the true story above demonstrates, can impact on the sufferer and those they love.
Bruxism Causes
Several studies make the connection between bruxism and stress. People who have personalities characterized by time urgency and achievement compulsion are most at risk, but it appears that anyone under stress can be prone to the condition.
The link between bruxism and occlusal discrepancies is controversial, even amongst the dental and healthcare professions. In one fearure article in a national newspaper recently, it was reported that Roy Higgins, the chief executive of the British Society of Occlusal Studied had weighed in favour of occulsal discrepancies, whereas professor David Bartlett of the Dental School of Kings College took a different view, favouring stress as the predemonant causal factor. The malocclusion theory is not evidence based as medical studies have produced inconclusive results. .
There are many other theories as to the triggers or causes of bruxism. Certain drugs are thought to increase the risk of the condition developing as well as alcohol, chocolate and other foods. Why not tell us what you think? Use our contact form to tell us your thoughts and we will consolidate responses and update our website with the results.