Squeaking at night with teeth to what. The myth of the presence of worms. Other external and internal pathological factors

In medical sources, you can find many synonyms for bruxism: the Carolini phenomenon, odonterism, “teeth grinding disease”. But the name does not change the essence of the problem: we are talking about uncontrolled dental squeak as a result of a spasm of the masticatory muscles.

There are two types of bruxism: the friction of the teeth against each other, which received the name of the same name (literally from the ancient Greek language, “bruxismum” is translated as “gnashing”), and a strong static clenching of the teeth, in which there is no friction, is clanch.

The disease can last for many years and invariably leads to complications such as tooth enamel wear, problems with the temporomandibular joints, and chronic stress.

There are many differences between dental bruxism in adults and children. In this article, we will talk specifically about the Carolini phenomenon in an adult. Read about why children grind their teeth in a separate article.

  1. Grinding of teeth in sleep at night. Due to the fact that the patient himself is not aware of the action being performed and does not wake up from the sound generated by him, this symptom of nocturnal bruxism in an adult can only be noticed by relatives around him.

  2. Grinding of teeth during the day. It also happens involuntarily, the patient does not fix the moment of squeezing, but notes the constant tension of the muscles of the face, causing discomfort.

  3. Erasing of teeth. Frequent loss of fillings or changes in the area of ​​the crown of the teeth: chips, roughness, shortening due to constant friction.

  4. Pain in the mouth. Sometimes the face will literally tell the doctor about bruxism: abrasions on the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the patient's cheeks, which appear as a result of regular "biting".

  5. neurological symptoms. Can bruxism cause pain in the body? Yes, headaches, aching pain in the neck, as well as dizziness and ringing in the ears, which cannot be explained by other diseases, should be a “wake-up call” for the dentist.

  6. General malaise. Feeling of weakness in the whole body, increased fatigue, constant drowsiness, irritability, arising as a result of intense sleep at night due to strong grinding of teeth.

It is not always possible for the patient to self-diagnose the presence of bruxism. As a rule, only a special instrumental study, electromyography, can finally confirm the diagnosis.

Reasons for clenching teeth

To date, medicine cannot give an unambiguous answer to the question of what are the causes of teeth grinding in adults. But there are a number of scientific hypotheses that explain the occurrence of the disease.

Bad habits

Bad habits, or rather their consequences, can answer the question of why teeth grinding occurs in a dream. The habit of chewing a toothpick or the cap of a ballpoint pen in order to concentrate develops into a conditioned reflex that provokes bruxism of the teeth in adults: even without these items at hand, a person will make chewing movements.

Nervous tension

The so-called nervous bruxism is one of the causes of teeth grinding during sleep in adults. The strongest clenching of teeth occurs during times of stress in order to suppress unwanted reactions: crying, screaming, moaning. If the stressful situation is repeated often, such a reaction becomes habitual: he was nervous - he clenched his teeth to a creak.

Chronic neurological diseases

In patients with epilepsy, Huntington's disease, tremors, enuresis, Parkinson's disease, a side effect is often observed - nightly grinding of teeth.

Sleep disorders

In those who suffer from chronic insomnia, shallow sleep prevails over deep sleep, and frequent awakenings are accompanied by bruxism at night: a person uncontrollably clenches his jaw in order to fall asleep again as soon as possible.

Dental pathologies

Incorrect bite, due to which the load during chewing is distributed unevenly, can also be the cause of clenching of the teeth. Read about his treatment. Overcompleteness of teeth, which does not allow them to close completely, provokes a strong nightly grinding of teeth. Poorly installed dentures (fillings), when the patient involuntarily wants to “grind” uncomfortable places, and then it becomes a habit, this is another reason for grinding teeth in a dream.

For a long time there was an opinion that helminthic infestations can provoke bruxism, but recent scientific studies have proven it untenable.

Bruxism and psychosomatics

The most popular version of the etiology of teeth grinding in adults currently lies in the plane of mental disorders. Recent studies by German scientists in this area suggest a direct link between chronic depression and clenching of teeth. As for bruxism and psychosomatics, the onset of the disease can also be influenced by negative emotions suppressed by a person every day, his hidden experiences, fears and complexes are expressed, among other things, in a spasm of chewing muscles.

ATTENTION!

Even Hippocrates claimed that gnashing of teeth is due to the confusion of the soul!

What does grinding teeth mean for a dentist?

In dentistry, bruxism, depending on the severity, can serve as an absolute or relative contraindication to a number of procedures.

  • Implantation. It is considered an absolute contraindication to implantation due to the high risk of loosening of the implant with its subsequent loss.

  • Prosthetics with ceramic crowns. Despite the fact that modern ceramic crowns are much stronger than their predecessors, even they cannot withstand constant pressure and will collapse after a while.

  • Installation of braces. Systematic compression of the jaws leads to breakage of the braces, and sometimes to injury to the gums and tongue. Therefore, for bite correction, bruxer patients are recommended to use only special soft caps.

  • Artistic restoration. Lumineers, componeers, veneers and bruxism are unfortunately incompatible. Otherwise, it's just money down the drain, since it will not be possible to avoid chipping of ultra-thin structures.

To creak or not to creak?

Of course, in terms of severity, bruxism of teeth in adults cannot be compared with diseases such as caries or complete adentia, requiring immediate medical attention. If in the Middle Ages, because of the nightly gnashing of teeth, a person could be brought to the court of the Inquisition on suspicion of being connected with the devil, today, apart from discomfort at night for your loved ones, he does not threaten anything. But only at first glance. The distant prospect does not inspire optimism: if you are planning implantation, prosthetics, the installation of braces or veneers, you will first have to decide how. Thus, along the way, significantly improving the quality of your life.

Has anyone told you that you grind your teeth at night? It can happen to anyone, but if it happens all the time, you may be suffering from bruxism. This means excessive activity of the chewing system. The state of rhythmic muscle movement can occur at any stage of sleep or during the day with strong tension. Grinding of teeth in a dream: the causes in adults were found out during scientific experiments. At the same time, the goal was to find a way to get rid of this disease.

What is the function of grinding teeth during sleep and where does it come from?

This "disease" belongs to the so-called class of parafunctions. It is not caused by malfunctions of organs in the body. However, grinding your teeth is fraught with negative health consequences. Bruxism in half of the cases affects children aged 10-12 years, as well as those diagnosed with cerebral palsy or mental retardation. The disease is diagnosed and

Grinding teeth in a dream: what could be the causes in adults

Researchers from West Virginia University, who conducted experiments with dozens of volunteers who suffered from bruxism, came to the conclusion that malocclusion and other factors associated with changes in the facial skeleton do not have any effect on the occurrence of grinding. At the same time, experience has confirmed that bruxism during sleep causes nocturnal awakenings due to increased autonomic cardiac and respiratory activity, repeated 8 to 14 times per hour.

The influence of nicotine

A study in Finland looking into what causes gnashing at night looks at the possible effect of nicotine on teeth grinding in people with an average age of 25. The aim of the project was to find a solution on how to get rid of the annoying grinding of teeth in a dream. 3124 people aged 23-28 were involved in the participation. The experiment lasted almost a year. During the observation of people who smoked 3 cigarettes a day every week, it was found that those who used tobacco containing nicotine, the symptoms of bruxism appear more often than others.

Viral and infectious diseases

Teeth grinding during sleep and its causes in adults are often manifested in this type of disease. With a complete cure, in most cases, unpleasant symptoms disappear.

Psychological problems

A number of scientific studies have found that 70% of the grinding of teeth during sound sleep in adults depends on feelings of anxiety, stress and other psychological problems that affect the restoration of body functions and immunity to diseases.

Sleep disorders

Bruxism occurs mainly in combination with other disorders, most commonly in people who snore and have shortness of breath.

Lifestyle

The causes of grinding teeth in adults have been named the use of psychoactive substances (tobacco, alcohol, caffeine or antidepressant drugs). They lead to sleep problems and, as a result, affect the nocturnal manifestations of bruxism.

How to get rid of grinding teeth in a dream?

How to eliminate grinding of teeth in the active phase of sleep? To date, no unique treatment has been found that can completely eliminate the symptoms of bruxism. To relax the jaw, special gymnastic exercises are practiced. Some patients even keep a calendar to determine how, when and why unpleasant symptoms appear.

If you do not know how to get rid of the grinding of teeth in a dream in time, this can be harmful to health. The unnatural pressure of teeth against each other can completely ruin a smile. In REM sleep, a person suffering from bruxism clenches their teeth 10 times harder than when chewing food naturally.

Grinding teeth during sleep - is it dangerous?

Chronic bruxism in almost all cases can seriously damage the teeth. Small cracks in the enamel and fillings will gradually increase, leading to fractures, periodontal tissue damage and permanent tooth loss.

Strong squeezing of the jaw muscles becomes, over time, the cause of pain and sensitivity. Unpleasant sensations appear when opening the mouth. If the enamel is damaged, the dentin is exposed, as a result of which unpleasant sensations are noted when in contact with hot, cold, salty, sweet and other irritants.

Also, damage to the temporomandibular joint leads to its chronic congestion. The process is accompanied by the appearance of unnatural sounds, such as pops or crackles.

Tips to help eliminate grinding in the teeth:

  1. Limit foods and drinks containing caffeine (coffee, coca-cola, chocolate).
  2. Avoid alcohol.
  3. Do not chew on pencils, pens, or other items that are not edible.
  4. Avoid chewing gum.
  5. If you find yourself clenching your jaws and grinding during the day, place the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This will help relax the chewing muscles.
  6. And, of course, do not forget about periodic visits to the dentist.

Thus, if teeth grinding in a dream is recorded, the causes in adults are quite simply diagnosed even under independent conditions for the onset of the disease.

Bruxism is the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, which occurs as a result of contraction of the masticatory or temporal muscles. Most often, people grind their teeth due to neurogenic causes, but the phenomenon is also observed with malocclusion or poorly selected dentures. Pathology can be accompanied by pains of different facial muscle groups, temporomandibular joint, sleep disorders, tinnitus and leads to abrasion of tooth enamel, periodontitis, arthrosis of the temporomandibular joints.

Silicone cap to protect teeth

Bruxism of varying severity is diagnosed in 31% of the population. Since its root causes have not yet been particularly identified, the treatment of pathology is a rather complex dental and psychosomatic problem. The choice of treatment regimen depends on the form and degree of development of the pathology. Important for effective treatment is how early the disease was detected. In the early form of the disease, it is difficult to notice any violations, and in severe cases, dentin erasure, caries, and inflammation of periodontal tissues are already observed, which occurs due to trauma to the teeth.

It is believed that teeth grinding in a dream occurs as a result of unresolved internal psychological problems. This means that the phenomenon is observed as a consequence of repressed aggression, unrealized during the day. Therefore, at night, teeth grinding is more common than during the day - after all, at night a person cannot control the state of his facial muscles. Bruxism causes serious damage to the condition of the teeth, joints, and facial muscles. The load on the teeth in this condition exceeds the chewing load by more than 10 times.

Scientists at the University of Düsseldorf conducted a study among patients with bruxism and found that neither age nor gender affect the risk of developing the disease - the only constant reason that people grind their teeth in their sleep was only the strong stress they were exposed to during the day.

In fairness, it should be noted that short attacks up to 10 seconds can also occur in healthy, positively minded people. Therefore, the answer to the question of what it is - bruxism is generally recognized to lie in the neurogenic area.

There are 2 forms of the disease: day and night. During the day, a person involuntarily clenches his teeth due to nervous tension, and grinding his teeth in a dream occurs due to the fact that his teeth are clenched at a time when he cannot control himself.

A person grinds his teeth in a dream with a grinding sound or with a tapping of a tooth on a tooth for some time, which are clearly noticeable to those sleeping nearby. At this time, the pulse, respiratory rate, pressure may change. You can creak and chatter your teeth in your sleep once a week and several times a night. During the day, much depends on the patient's self-control, which can control the habit of clenching the teeth and minimize its manifestations.

The reasons

Why do they grind their teeth at night? Most researchers agree that the main cause of grinding teeth in sleep in adults is stress. Often nighttime teeth grinding is clearly manifested after severe emotional trauma. One of the opinions of researchers in sleep pathologies is that the cause of bruxism lies in the field of dysregulation of the depth of sleep and is on a par with pathologies such as snoring, somnambulism, nocturnal enuresis and. This is one of the most common reasons why a person grinds and grinds his teeth in his sleep.

Among the risk factors that cause bruxism in adults, one can also note gastrointestinal diseases, the use of stimulants and alcohol, smoking, etc. It is believed that the pathology may be the result of infection of the body with worms. Helminths inhibit the synthesis of vitamin B 12, prevent the absorption of other vitamins of this group, which are responsible for the normal functioning of the nervous system. In some cases, such reactions can be caused by taking psychotropic drugs.

Nighttime teeth grinding as a dental problem

Often, pathology is observed in people with defects in the structure of the facial skeleton, with pathology of the joints connecting the temporal bone with the lower jaw, and with malocclusion. Night grinding may well be an attempt to involuntarily correct malocclusion defects. The teeth grind to find a comfortable, more physiological position for the jaws. Sometimes pathology begins to manifest itself in the absence of certain groups of teeth.

The installation of crowns can also be the reason why people start grinding their teeth in their sleep. Therefore, it is customary to install temporary structures first. When making veneers on the front teeth, it is recommended to wear protective mouthguards at night for the first two weeks.

Diagnosis and symptoms

Diagnosis of the disease is not difficult and is based on personal complaints of the patient or relatives sleeping next to him (for example, a woman notices that her husband grinds his teeth). Bruxism in adults is manifested by painful sensations:

  • in the temporomandibular joints;
  • in the ears;
  • in the paranasal sinuses;
  • in the neck and shoulders;
  • in the head like migraines;
  • destruction of tooth enamel;
  • the appearance of caries;
  • abrasion of teeth.

The main symptom of the disease is a violation of the surface of the dentition. Chronic bruxism leads to the destruction of tooth enamel. This includes severe abrasions on the surface of the teeth. Cracks, breaks, rubbing are observed on prostheses. First of all, protruding crowns suffer. There are also sharp edges of the teeth, which can lead to chronic injuries of the buccal mucosa or tongue.

Frequent friction of the upper teeth against the lower ones, of course, will not remain without consequences. Erased tooth enamel is just the tip of the problem. Convulsive constant compression of the jaws leads to an overload of the joints and the development of temporomandibular syndrome. Over time, headaches and muscle pains develop, radiating to the neck and back. Dysfunction of the temporomandibular articulation gradually develops - this is a deformation of the articular surfaces, which is accompanied by prolonged facial pain in the temporal and parotid regions. In rare cases, with severe pain, it is erroneously the pathology of the joints that can be considered as the cause of the painful condition.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by undergoing an examination on a polysomnograph, which registers a specific pattern of spastic contraction of the masticatory muscles. Polysomnography is also important to rule out epilepsy as a possible cause of bruxism (other regimens are used to treat epileptic pathologies).

Effects:

  • Muscle pain.
  • Erasing of teeth.
  • High tooth sensitivity.
  • Discomfort when chewing.
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
  • Headache.
  • Changing the shape of the face.
  • Looseness of teeth.
  • Sleep disorders.

As a result of sleep disturbance, irritability, decreased concentration and other problems can be observed. In some cases, if you do not go to the dentist in time, the teeth can be erased almost to the root.

Treatment

How to treat bruxism and not grind your teeth? What to do if a person grinds his teeth at night? First of all, grinding of the teeth is a problem that can be minimized by conscious effort. That is, if you notice a habit of grinding your teeth at night, you must:

  • minimize all stressors;
  • learn auto-training and relaxation techniques - listen to relaxing music before going to bed, take an aromatic bath;
  • it is recommended to give a load on the chewing muscles before falling asleep - thoroughly chew an apple, carrot or anything else;
  • at night, you can apply a warm compress to your cheeks, which will help you relax;
  • learn, if possible, to control yourself during the day - relax your muscles at the first sign of tension;
  • if the development of malocclusion has already begun, you should immediately contact the dentist;
  • to solve psychological problems, it is better to come to an appointment with a psychologist.

Andrew S. Kaplan, Associate Professor of Dentistry at New York University's Mount Sinai School of Medicine, recommends keeping your mouth and teeth in a lip-together, teeth-apart resting position throughout the day. Teeth should only touch when chewing food.

To stop grinding your teeth in a dream, all dental problems should be eliminated. The most effective today is the treatment of bruxism with the help of bioplastic night guards, for which they are put on the teeth and protect them from bruxism and abrasion. A cap for bruxism is made according to an individual cast from a transparent material. Designs of double-jaw and single-jaw caps have been developed. When worn, the mouthguard is hardly noticeable. At the moment of an attack of chattering teeth in a dream, she takes on the pressure. However, the cap does not cure the pathology, but only minimizes its harmful effects.

Night mouth guard in adults with grinding of teeth:

  • help to get rid of squeaking teeth in a dream;
  • protect teeth from abrasion;
  • serves as a prevention of fractures of orthopedic structures;
  • protect against displacement of teeth;
  • will help reduce stress on the maxillofacial system.

With severe symptoms of teeth grinding at night, you can contact the maxillofacial surgeon to relieve muscle hypertonicity. Sometimes, when it is necessary to cure bruxism, it is necessary to first install a muscle relaxant mouth guard - a special splint that relaxes the muscles for up to two weeks. Some are helped by mechanical devices used to treat snoring.

If the disease progresses, in the most severe cases of bruxism in adults, injections of drugs to relax the masticatory muscles are prescribed (Botox injections are popular). As an additional drug treatment for nighttime teeth grinding, adults should drink magnesium, calcium, and B vitamins.

Bruxism, despite its seeming harmlessness at the very beginning of its occurrence, definitely needs to be treated as early as possible, since subsequently it can cause serious damage to the body, which will require serious financial investments.

List of used literature:

  • bruxism. Nlm.nih.gov. Archived February 12, 2012.
  • Robert AC Chat. Summary of: Use of the Grindcare device in the management of nocturnal bruxism: a pilot study (neopr.). British Dental Journal 215 24-25 (2013).
  • V.M. Becker R.A., Bykov Yu.V. Depressive patients in dental practice: dental complications of depression and its treatment // Mental disorders in general medicine. - 2016. - No. 1-2. - S. 45-51.

Why do you grind your teeth in your sleep? From a medical point of view, this manifestation is called bruxism. It is manifested by a strong spasm of the muscles of the jaws and uncontrolled movement of closed teeth. Tightly interlocked teeth create friction and an unpleasant sound and grinding.

The reasons

Grinding of teeth in a dream in an adult may be accompanied by such disorders as:

  • temporary pauses in breathing;
  • a sharp drop in blood pressure;
  • bradycardia;
  • decrease in heart rate.

Why do teeth grind in a dream, let's take a closer look. When a person is awake, he, as a rule, does not grind his molars, but clenches his jaw very tightly. This process is uncontrolled, and the person does not pay attention to the fact that his muscles are tense. What is bruxism and how to stop grinding your teeth?

Family members will tell you that you have bruxism

If a person can diagnose daytime bruxism himself, then nighttime manifestations are usually told to him by the sleepy faces of loved ones who listen to the terrible gnashing of teeth at night, which interferes with normal sleep. How to stop grinding your teeth in a dream, and most importantly, restore the peace of others?

If a person grinds his teeth during sleep, he has the following symptoms:

  • Morning pain in facial and jaw muscles of the face;
  • Inflammatory process in the joints leading to difficulty in the movement of the lower jaw;
  • Hypersensitivity due to abrasion of tooth enamel;
  • bite deformity;
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome due to sleep disturbance;
  • Morning migraines, due to overexertion of the facial muscles.

During grinding, the structure of the teeth and the condition of the muscles are disturbed. If you are going to have crowns or implants, let your dentist know


There are several reasons why people grind their teeth at night. In most cases, they require treatment and examination by a neurologist, some do not tolerate the delay of a visit to the dentist. The cause of bruxism may be:

  1. neurological nature;
  2. dental diseases;
  3. Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint;
  4. Brain injury.

Sometimes it takes years to identify the cause of bruxism. A person does not perceive the disease as a signal of the body, and only relatives who have lost their nerves force the “squeaker” to turn to a specialist.

Isn't it time to check if the nerves are in order


Chronic neurosis, prolonged depression, nervous exhaustion, psychological stress are one of the most common causes of teeth grinding during sleep. Everyone knows that during immersion in sleep, a person’s nervous system ceases to strain, thereby getting rid of third-party information. The brain in a dream should rest, and due to neurological problems, a person does not relax completely in a dream. He is experiencing problems that arose during the daytime. This causes jaw spasm. And what are the reasons for grinding teeth not in a dream, but when awake. It's all about nerves...

Teeth grinding at night usually occurs during REM sleep. At the same time, a person's eyeballs are actively moving and muscles contract involuntarily. You should definitely visit a neurologist if, in addition to the fact that a person grinds his teeth in a dream, he also talks, snores, walks and has enuresis.

If you see a person who, at a moment of nervous overstrain, involuntarily begins to gnaw on a toothpick, match, pen, pencil or nails, we can conclude that this person definitely grinds his teeth at night.

Often, the cause of grinding teeth in a dream is associated with the type of activity. Contact with varnishes and paints poisons the body. Toxins coming from outside destroy the cells of the nervous system and disrupt the normal functioning of neurons.

Alcohol and tobacco abuse have a negative effect on the nervous system. If your loved ones have told you that nighttime teeth grinding is becoming more and more common, you should consider quitting smoking and giving up alcohol.

Stressful situations cause a person to tightly clench their jaws. This is a kind of response of the body to a stimulus. Didn't notice when you are irritated, you strongly strain all the muscles of the jaw.

According to neurologists, teeth grinding is a serious signal of the body, manifested by a violation of the nervous system. Epileptic seizures can manifest themselves in a dream in a mild form. If you do an MRI of the brain, then in such people you can see the foci of epileptic seizures, or a predisposition to them. Very often, spasm of the jaw muscles can occur due to damage to the trigeminal nerve.

Dental diseases - the cause of an unpleasant squeak

Problems of a dental nature are also the result of grinding teeth in a dream in an adult. Precursors can be:

  • Incorrectly installed seal;
  • malocclusion;
  • Absence of teeth;
  • Inconsistency in the size of braces or dentures;
  • Inflammatory process in the jaw joint.

A filling set above the prescribed level leads to the fact that, relaxing in a dream, a person cannot fully close his jaw. Trying to do this, a person involuntarily begins to pick up a comfortable position for the jaws, which is the reason for the grinding of teeth in a dream.

The same is true with dentures and braces. Inadequate closure of the jaws causes discomfort in the sleeper, the upper and lower jaws, when in contact, cause gnashing of teeth.

Malocclusion prevents the teeth from taking the correct place in the jaw. During the relaxation of the jaw muscles, they take a comfortable position, and the bite takes its usual position. Because of the lack of coordination of actions, a person begins to clench his jaw. This is one of the dental causes of teeth grinding at night. Malocclusion can be judged by the presence of dental prints on the tongue after sleep.

An incomplete set of teeth in the mouth leads to malocclusion. In sleep, the muscles relax, the teeth take up position according to the bite, and since they are not enough, the jaws are displaced. The brain receives a message that the physiological arrangement of the jaws is disturbed, gives a signal to correct this ailment, as a result, teeth creak against each other.

Inflammatory diseases of the temporomandibular joint lead to disruption of normal function. This can be understood by a strong click during opening of the mouth or yawning. The inflammatory process of the jaw joints increases the nerve pulsation, causing spasm of the masticatory muscles and grinding. Muscles contract involuntarily and teeth creak.

Why is bruxism dangerous?

Nighttime teeth grinding is dangerous if it becomes the norm rather than an accident. If people often grind their teeth in their sleep, this leads to:

  1. Thinning of dentin;
  2. Tooth decay;
  3. Loss and loosening of teeth in the oral cavity;
  4. Crunch of the jaw joints;
  5. Violation of the nervous system;
  6. Misunderstanding on the part of relatives;
  7. Frequent headaches.

It is necessary to diagnose bruxism in an adult as early as possible. Grinding teeth in a dream, causes and methods of elimination, we will consider below.

How to get rid of night grinding - treatment and prevention

Bruxism in adults has no specific treatment. What to do to stop the squeak? How to cure bruxism?

Before treating bruxism, you should undergo a complete examination by a dentist, orthodontist and neuropathologist. Based on the collected history, specialists will give a conclusion and recommend how to properly treat bruxism in adults.

To get rid of the disease, dentists recommend wearing mouthguards. Sometimes, braces are recommended to straighten the bite. If you find a seal set above the prescribed level, then you need to grind off the excess filling material. Perhaps this was the main reason why a person grinds his teeth in a dream. To relax the jaw muscles and get rid of grinding at night, Botox injections are recommended. They paralyze the muscles of the face and prevent them from contracting for a long time.

In case of deviations in the functioning of the nervous system, the patient is examined, after which the patient is offered to undergo a series of examinations:

  1. MRI of the brain;
  2. Computed tomography (CT).

To stabilize the work of the nervous system and get rid of the squeak in adults, antidepressants and sedatives are prescribed. Often, a psychotherapist advises getting rid of bruxism and mental disorder with hypnotic sleep.

It is very important to train a person in relaxing gymnastics in combination with therapeutic procedures. Exercises aimed at relaxing the muscles of the neck and jaws will help to avoid grinding your teeth at night. Warm compresses can be used to relieve muscle spasm. This procedure has limitations: if the body has signs of an infectious or purulent process, it is impossible to heat. In the absence of contraindications, compresses are applied to the neck-collar zone and to the lower jaw.

In order to get rid of the night rattle, doctors recommend deceiving the body. During the day, you need to train the muscles of the jaws. Eat more raw vegetables and fruits that need to be chewed for a long time. Eat nuts, they will be useful not only for the muscles, but also for the brain.
As a preventive measure, it is recommended:

  1. Gymnastics for muscles before going to bed;
  2. Calming herbal tea;
  3. Compliance with the regime of work and rest;
  4. Long walks in the fresh air, it is better to go to the forest;
  5. Balanced diet;
  6. Regular airing of the room;

Now you know why people grind their teeth in their sleep. The main causes of creaking are neurology, stress and depressive states. Treatment of bruxism comes down to observing the regime of the day, good nutrition and staying in the fresh air.

Why does a person grind his teeth in a dream and how to deal with it? What does creak and rattle mean? You should be aware that this can happen to both children and adults. In medicine, this phenomenon is called bruxism.

Causes of bruxism

This condition may indicate various disorders in the functional systems of the body. Grinding of teeth is accompanied by a loud sound of friction and contact between the dentition, which most often occurs at night.

This can usually be noticed by the child's parents or relatives of an adult, but this problem can also be identified by a dentist at an appointment.

Teeth grinding can be caused by a variety of factors:

  • genetic;
  • psychological;
  • neurological;
  • dental;
  • osteogenic;
  • other reasons of a different nature.

genetic factor

There is an opinion that a genetic factor can play an important role in the appearance of bruxism.

Studies have shown that the likelihood of bruxism in twin children is 2.5 times greater than in normal children.

Psychological

The psychological etiological factor includes various stressful situations (very often a teenager suffers because of this), constant nervous strain, unstable emotional state, depression, and sleep disturbance.

This reason is inherent in both children and adults. Therefore, it is very important to maintain good relations in the family and not close yourself. Otherwise, the patient needs the help of a psychologist or psychotherapist.

Neurological

Neurological disorders occur due to various damage to the motor fibers of the trigeminal nerve that innervate the masticatory muscles.

As a result, the chewing muscles are in constant tension, and the dentition is in close contact.

dental

Dental causes of teeth grinding include:

  • bite deformity,
  • missing some teeth
  • incorrect or uncomfortable dentures or braces,
  • poor dental treatment.

Osteogenic factors

Osteogenic causes play a large role in the manifestation of bruxism. This is facilitated by:

  • arthrosis and arthritis of the temporomandibular,
  • birth trauma in newborns
  • traumatic brain injury,
  • destruction of the jaw bones due to osteoarthritis or osteomyelitis,
  • incorrect orthopedic intervention,
  • cervical spine.

Other reasons

Other causes of bruxism include helminthiases. This problem was vividly discussed on forums and programs in which Dr. Komarovsky shares his knowledge.

He assured that the absence of a relationship between the presence of worms in the body and the occurrence of bruxism has long been scientifically proven.

  • bad childhood habits (thumb sucking, tongue protrusion during sleep, constant chewing gum),
  • improper unbalanced diet,
  • taking certain medications (hypnotics, antidepressants, sedatives).

Both adults and children can be affected by the disease.

Symptoms of childhood and adult bruxism

How to recognize such a pathology and distinguish it from other types of dysfunction of the masticatory apparatus or behavior?

Bruxism occurs mainly at night during sleep and is periodic. Attacks last about two minutes and may recur several times a night. They are accompanied by a loud sound like gnashing of teeth and clicking.

Also, there may be muscle pain in the jaws, abrasion of enamel, increased sensitivity of the teeth and the presence of caries.

Less common symptoms of bruxism are:

  • depression and depressed mood;
  • loss of appetite;
  • pain in the maxillary sinuses;
  • pain and;
  • sleep disturbance and well-being in the morning;
  • fatigue;
  • vertigo (vestibular dizziness).

How to get rid of this condition, only a doctor can tell.

Diagnosis and treatment of bruxism

What should I do and which doctor should I contact if I have symptoms of bruxism? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to understand the cause of this disease.

When teeth grinding occurs in children, parents should consult a pediatrician. He will determine the causes and appoint a further consultation with the necessary specialist.


If an adult suffers from bruxism, it is necessary, first, to contact an orthodontist or implantologist. It will exclude or confirm violations in the work of the temporomandibular joint, masticatory muscles, bite deformities and other pathologies of the maxillofacial apparatus.

If the dentist does not detect pathology in his area, you need to contact a neurologist or psychotherapist. Carefully, these specialists collect an anamnesis of life and illness to identify possible causes of bruxism.

Polysomnography indicators are a very informative diagnostic criterion. This is a survey that screens sleep and its phases using special computer systems.

The results are evaluated using a hypnogram, which contains information about at what stages there are violations. This method is often used to diagnose snoring, nightmares, bruxism and epilepsy.

Complications of bruxism

Why is this condition dangerous for health? Bruxism provokes the occurrence of muscle spasms of the masticatory muscles and its atrophy.

Often, grinding of teeth leads to pathological abrasion of enamel and hyperesthesia of the teeth. Because of this, the quality of nutrition deteriorates, weight loss and a decrease in immunity occur.

Consequently, the proportions of the face can change dramatically, which worsens its aesthetic criteria. Teeth become mobile and can easily fall out or break. The man is ashamed of his smile.


It is also possible the development of purulent processes in the maxillofacial region in the form of phlegmon and abscesses. With running processes, the infection moves further and spreads to other tissues and organs, up to sepsis.

Treatment of night squeaking with teeth

Often people who are faced with this problem are concerned about the question - how to treat the disease, and which doctor to contact? To treat bruxism, you first need to relax the masticatory muscles.

They use warm and cool compresses, massage and physiotherapy exercises of the masticatory muscles in the form of various special exercises. The dentist makes a special mouthguard for a night's sleep. It prevents further negative impact on the dentition.

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