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Preventing Bruxism (TMJ)
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What
is bruxism?
Bruxism is the technical term for grinding and clenching that abrades
teeth and may cause facial pain. People who grind and clench, called bruxers,
unintentionally bite down too hard at inappropriate times, such as in
their sleep. In addition to grinding teeth, bruxers also may bite their
fingernails, pencils and chew the inside of their cheek. People usually
aren't diagnosed with bruxism until it is too late because so many people
don't realize they have the habit. Others mistakenly believe that their
teeth must touch at all times. About one in four people suffer from bruxism,
which can easily be treated by a dentist.
Can
bruxism cause harm?
People who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums can clench so often and
so hard that over time their teeth become sensitive and they experience
jaw pain and headaches. Forceful biting when not eating may cause the
jaw to move out of proper balance.
What
are the signs?
When a person has bruxism, the tips of the teeth look flat. Teeth are
worn down so much that the enamel is rubbed off, exposing the inside of
the tooth, which is called dentin. When exposed, dentin may become sensitive.
Bruxers may experience pain in their temporomandibular joint (TMJ) - the
jaw -, which may manifest itself as popping and clicking. Women, who are
more susceptible to TMD, also have a higher prevalence of bruxism possibly
because they are more likely to experience tissue alterations in the jaw
resulting from clenching and grinding. Tongue indentations are another
sign of clenching.
Stress and certain
personality types are at the root of bruxism. For as long as humankind
has existed, bruxism has affected people with nervous tension. Anger,
pain and frustration can trigger bruxing. People who are aggressive, competitive
and hurried also may be at greater risk for bruxism.
What
can be done about it?
During regular dental visits, the dentist automatically checks for physical
signs of bruxism. If the dentist or patient notices signs of bruxism,
the condition may be observed over several visits to be sure of the problem
before recommending and starting therapy.
The objective of therapy
is to get the bruxer to change behavior by learning how to rest the tongue,
teeth and lips properly. When some people become aware of their problem,
simply advising them to rest their tongue upward with teeth apart and
lips shut may be enough to change their behavior and relieve discomfort.
However, the dentist can make a plastic mouth appliance, such as a night
guard that's worn to absorb the force of biting which causes damage and
pain and also helps to change patient behavior.
Using electronic instruments
to measure muscle activity and to teach patients how to reduce muscle
activity when the biting force becomes too great uses biofeedback to treat
daytime clenchers. Researchers are looking for other ways of treatment
bruxism, especially for those who tend to clench in their sleep. One researcher
developed an experimental lip stimulator that electrically stimulates
the lip when a person bites down too hard while sleeping. However, that
method is being refined because the stimulation can wake sleepers several
times in a night.
Reprinted from AGD.
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