It’s pretty common for even the most calm among us to occasionally clench our jaws in frustration or other emotional stress, but if you find yourself with tension headaches, damaged or sensitive teeth, or pain in your neck or ears, you might want to investigate your possible bruxism habits. In some cases, bruxism doesn’t cause any issues beyond occasional jaw pain or very minimal tooth erosion; in all cases, regular monitoring from your dentist will help make sure symptoms are managed, and the integrity of the teeth is protected. Bruxism can be a problem for children or adults; whether it turns into a long-term problem is another story.
More than one-third of parents report suspecting their children of sleep bruxism, often because they’ve heard their children grinding their teeth in their sleep, though most of these children grow out of their sleep bruxism as they enter adulthood. Sleep bruxism that continues into adulthood is often an indication of a larger issue that requires attention from a medical specialist, like sleep apnea, though it, too, can be triggered by stress and may be managed with relaxation techniques and good sleep hygiene. Awake bruxism in adulthood is linked to stress, tension, anxiety, anger, smoking, alcohol use, caffeine use, and extreme fatigue.
With so many possible causes, there are just as many possible treatments. Most of the time, bruxism is a short-lived habit that disappears once the person is made aware of it. In severe cases, however, bruxism can lead to irreversible damage to the teeth and weakening of the dental enamel, worn down by the constant friction of grinding, along with intense facial or jaw pain, headaches, and earaches, or complex, painful temporomandibular joint disorders. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s possible your bruxism has become a problem, and it’s a good idea to see a dentist for a comprehensive checkup and treatment recommendations.
Sometimes, recommended treatment is as simple as monitoring the breath and learning to address stress. Sometimes, relaxation routines that include stretching the shoulders and neck can help minimize bruxism. Other times, referrals to medical specialists might lead to comprehensive medical treatments like CPAP or BPAP machines that help control the symptoms of sleep apnea, including bruxism, by maintaining oxygen levels during sleep. Conditions like sleep apnea can be fatal if ignored, and it might be something seemingly simple like sleep bruxism that first clues a person in on their own sleep apnea and triggers life-altering treatment.
Much of the time, the underlying causes aren’t as potentially dangerous as sleep apnea. If you’re going through a particularly emotional or stressful time, try to pay attention to whether you’re holding your tension in your jaw. If you do, you might benefit from some simple breathing techniques or stress-management approaches that will help you relax your jaw and stop destructive, unconscious bruxism habits. Some approaches, like mouth guards and splints, help protect the teeth and bone from the many pressures and frictions of bruxism, while other, more holistic approaches, seek to treat or remove the underlying source or cause of bruxism and prevent these pressures and frictions entirely. It’s up to you and your dentist to determine which approach will work best for you, and up to you and your dentist to decide if your bruxism is a problem that requires attention. The sooner you can see your dentist, the sooner you’ll know if your bruxism is a problem, or if you should expect it to become one down the road.
Related Article: Identify Known Bruxism Causes