Bruxism in adults: causes, treatment and prevention. Good habits for treating teeth grinding during sleep

Many people are faced with a situation where the teeth begin to wear down, their edges become uneven. This process occurs due to bruxism. The patient may not notice the pathology, since the first symptoms occur during a night's sleep.

Malocclusion with bruxism

What is bruxism

At night, during sleep, some people have jaw clicks, an unpleasant creaking (gnashing) of teeth occurs. In medicine, this pathology is called bruxism. She is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. Bruxism damages the enamel that covers each tooth. Its layer becomes thinner, and in some cases it is erased to the dentin.

Teeth grinding is not the only symptom of bruxism. The disease affects the jaw joints negatively. People suffering from bruxism complain of joint and muscle pain in the lower jaw. In a severe course of the disease, caries is detected, due to which inflammatory processes begin in the mouth in the future.

With the disease, other symptoms may also occur due to deformation of the jaw bones:

• morning headaches;
• sensation of ringing in the ears;
• pain in the neck, shoulders and back;
• tingling in the head;
• daytime sleepiness;
• high eye sensitivity.

A creak can also occur during the day due to nervous overexertion. However, this is more like a habit than an illness. Seizures can be controlled during the day. You just need to learn to control your behavior.

Causes of bruxism

The disease can occur at any age. Doctors have not yet fully understood the reasons why bruxism develops. There is a point of view that gnashing of teeth occurs due to a disorder of the nervous system. Aggressive people suppress their feelings of anger while awake, and cannot control their emotions during sleep.

The disease sometimes occurs due to chronic inflammation of the mandibular joints. It is manifested by clicks when opening the mouth. The inflammatory process causes trismus of masticatory muscles (sudden spasm). As a result, the lower jaw is displaced. At this point, the sound of teeth grinding occurs.

The causes of bruxism are also improperly interlocked teeth, incorrectly installed fillings, crowns and braces, and abnormal bite. The teeth of the upper and lower jaws with such problems cling to each other and cause grinding.

Some experts believe that sick people may have a genetic predisposition to bruxism. In medical practice, there were cases when the disease was detected in all family members. However, such observations do not yet have a scientific explanation.

How to cure bruxism

For quite a long time it was believed that about the gnashing of teeth should be addressed to dentists. In fact, people suffering from bruxism require the help of specialists from other medical fields. Treatment of bruxism can be divided into several stages: correction of the behavior of a sick person, the appointment of the necessary medications, dental care. You can also treat bruxism at home.

Behavior modification and medication

One of the causes of bruxism is everyday stress, therefore, to eliminate the problem, it is recommended that you first seek the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist. The specialist will teach you how to control emotions and cope with stressful situations.

Treatment of bruxism at home, its effectiveness largely depends on the patient. You can get rid of negative emotions on your own without outside help. Walking, listening to your favorite music, reading literature will play a positive role.

In some cases, experts recommend treating bruxism with antidepressants (drugs that relieve anxiety, normalize sleep) and muscle relaxants (under the influence of these drugs, the masticatory muscle relaxes). You can not take these drugs at your own discretion, because they have pronounced side effects.

Bruxism can be cured only in a complex way. In the acute form, doctors prescribe to their patients not only antidepressants, muscle relaxants, but also benzodiazepines. This class of drugs includes substances with a sedative and muscle relaxant effect. These drugs improve the quality of sleep.

dental care

The most effective and common tool in the treatment of bruxism is an occlusal mouthguard. A temporary removable device is recommended to be used at night, when trismus of the masticatory muscles most often occurs, because people cannot control their muscles in sleep. The mouth guard can also be used during the day during periods of tension.

Occlusal kappa

A temporary removable appliance for each specific patient is made individually, taking into account the physiological characteristics of the oral cavity. Ready kappa is put on the upper teeth. It prevents the occurrence of grinding and protects the teeth from abrasion. Symptoms when using a mouth guard disappear, but the cause of the disease is not eliminated.

Those patients who have destroyed teeth or impaired chewing function are shown prosthetics. Doctors install crowns for patients. However, artificial teeth can suffer. In order for dental crowns to last as long as possible, it is necessary to wear an occlusal mouth guard at night.

Features of the treatment of bruxism in adults

Treatment of the disease in adults is carried out by the above methods. Some people need a psychologist, while others need the help of a dentist. However, in any case, it will not be possible to achieve a positive result if there is no self-control.

In the treatment of bruxism, it is worth conducting auto-training to calm the nervous system, that is, self-hypnosis. Thanks to him, you can learn to control yourself, get rid of negative emotions and relax.

For bruxism, you can also try various traditional medicines to calm the nervous system. Various herbal teas (with lavender, chamomile, mint, lime blossom) will be effective.

Features of the treatment of bruxism in children

Children may grind their teeth at night. This is due to improper bite. Parents should consult with an orthodontist about this problem and discuss the treatment of bruxism in children. Doctors select a technique that leads to. In correcting the bite, special linings, braces for the child's teeth can help. They simultaneously protect the enamel from thinning. It is also effective to massage the teeth for alignment.

Bruxism in children in most cases develops due to excessive psychological stress. To fix the problem, parents should review the child's daily routine, devote more time to their child, play with him, do drawing or music. Watching TV shows in the evening or playing computer games is undesirable.

Bruxism in children can be treated with aromatherapy. To relieve nervous tension, warm baths are recommended before bedtime with the addition of a few drops of lavender or geranium. The child will relax after bathing. Oils will have a calming effect on the child's body.

Prevention of bruxism

Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. This statement is also true for bruxism. To keep your teeth healthy, you need to:

1. Try not to get into stressful situations. Do not start quarrels and scandals.
2. Do not abuse coffee, alcohol, strong tea before bedtime. These drinks excite the nervous system and lead to the fact that in a dream people start.
3. Don't watch horror movies before bed. It is best to spend the evening in a relaxed atmosphere.
4. Give up cigarettes. A bad habit loosens the nervous system.
5. Make sure that during the day the jaws do not touch each other.

Before going to bed, it is advisable to take a bath. Warm water has a calming effect on the body. It is also recommended to relax the jaw muscles with compresses or heating pads applied to the cheekbones. Heat will relieve trismus (spasm).

Bruxism at first glance may seem like a frivolous ailment. However, it is not. The longer an adult delays going to the doctor, the more serious the consequences become. Teeth begin to wear out and fall out. As a result, facial asymmetry occurs. In order not to face these consequences, you need to take care of the condition of your oral cavity, visit the dentist regularly and, if necessary, treat your teeth.

Many patients are interested in which doctor to contact if they start to worry about spontaneous grinding of their teeth. All problems related to the condition of teeth and gums are dealt with by a dentist. Therefore, he is also involved in the treatment of bruxism.

Treatment of squeaking teeth largely depends on what triggered the development of the disease. Only an experienced doctor based on anamnesis can establish the true cause of bruxism. After a detailed examination of the patient's teeth and gums, he will tell you in detail what treatment is needed in this particular case.

If the cause of the disease was poor-quality dentures or fillings, they should be replaced with new and better ones, suitable for a particular patient. If the cause of bruxism is nervous strain, it is necessary, first of all, to learn how to relax, especially before going to bed.

The treatment method involves three steps:

1. Wearing a special mouthguard during sleep, which does not allow the teeth to close and creak.
2. Relaxation and getting rid of the state of tension that occurs as a result of frequent stress.
3. Orthodontic and orthopedic treatment of teeth with increased abrasion of tooth enamel.

Special mouthguards for bruxism are made individually for each patient. They do not allow the teeth to close and wear out. The purpose of a mouthguard is to protect teeth from abrasion, by itself it does not cure bruxism.

The ability to relax is necessary in the fight against bruxism, because the main cause of the disease is precisely stress and nervous strain. Therefore, it is important to be able to relax before going to bed. Walking in the fresh air, reading books, listening to calm music, taking a relaxing bath are great help to relax. In more complex cases, the dentist may recommend consultations with a psychologist to find out the causes of nervous strain.

Orthodontic and orthopedic dental therapy may be needed when bruxism is chronic. In this case, the patient's teeth suffer from excessive abrasion, they may begin to stagger, move in the dentition. In this case, you can not do without appropriate treatment. It may even be necessary to strengthen the teeth with special devices that do not allow the teeth to wobble and move.

In the most difficult and advanced cases, the doctor may recommend Botox injections that are injected into the jaw muscles, as a result of which it cannot contract spontaneously.

How to deal with symptoms

Often patients are interested in what medications to use for spontaneous grinding of teeth. Unfortunately, there is no cure for bruxism. You can take sedatives to relieve tension and vitamins to strengthen the nervous system. But there is no drug that would treat exactly the grinding of teeth.

The treatment of teeth grinding includes the development of self-control, it is especially important in the fight against daytime bruxism. The patient must learn to control the position of the teeth and jaw. In a calm state, the teeth should not close. As soon as the jaws are compressed, it is necessary to force the muscles to relax by an effort of will.

Treatment of the disease in adults is somewhat simpler than in children, since it is easier for an adult to learn how to control the condition of the facial muscles. On the other hand, in children, the manifestations of bruxism quite often go away on their own, without special treatment.

Therapy for night bruxism involves loading the jaws with work. The more tired the masticatory muscles are during the day, the more likely it is that during sleep they will not contract involuntarily. It is recommended to load the masticatory muscles during the day by chewing solid food. You can also chew chewing gum, but do not abuse it.

Means of protection of teeth

Since chronic bruxism causes the patient's teeth to wear too much, become loose and may even begin to move in the dentition, it is very important to protect the teeth during treatment. With night bruxism, special protective caps are used (they are also called splints), which protect the teeth from abrasion, and also protect the jaw joint from excessive stress. These mouthguards are made individually, ideally suited to the patient and do not cause discomfort during a night's sleep.

If the patient cannot independently learn to control the position of the teeth and jaw during daytime bruxism, the orthodontist can make a special day splint for him, which is worn constantly and cannot be removed. Such a tire is completely invisible to others, does not interfere with talking, eating, and leading a normal life. At the same time, it does not allow the teeth to close.

If the cause of bruxism is malocclusion, a special repositioning splint will help reconstruct the position of the articular head of the jaw joint, which will completely eliminate spasmodic phenomena of the facial and jaw muscles.

Orthodontic and Orthopedic Therapy

Often a dentist prescribes orthodontic or orthopedic treatment for bruxism. They are indicated in the case when the teeth are excessively erased, or the cause of the disease is a poor-quality filling or prosthesis. In this case, it is necessary to sharpen the protruding seal or replace it with a new one. Any violation of symmetry in the closure of the dentition can cause an imbalance in the work of the jaw muscles, which can cause bruxism.

If the patient's teeth are loose, the doctor may recommend strengthening the dentition with splinting. In this case, the teeth will be securely fixed in place, and with further treatment, the patient will be able to completely get rid of bruxism without losing their teeth.

Features in adults

Treatment of bruxism in adults requires, first of all, the presence of good self-control, without which it is impossible to achieve a stable and lasting result.

In addition to the above methods of treatment, you can also try to resort to traditional medicine. Folk remedies are aimed at calming the nervous system and relieving nervous tension. For example, an infusion of peppermint, tripoli leaves, valerian root and hop flowers (2:2:1:1) has a good sedative effect. You can also try taking an infusion of valerian root, cumin fruit, and chamomile flowers (2:5:3). Infusions are taken on an empty stomach inside 3-4 times a day.

In the treatment of bruxism in adults, great attention should be paid to auto-training. It allows you to learn to control your condition, get rid of stress, relax before going to bed.

Features in children

Bruxism in children occurs most often due to excessive psychological stress, as well as due to malocclusion. First of all, parents need to exclude bite anomalies by contacting a pediatric orthodontist. If everything is in order with the bite, and the child grinds his teeth at night, you should carefully review his daily routine. Perhaps the child is unnecessarily nervous because of problems at school.

Treatment of bruxism in children is primarily aimed at correcting the bite. To this end, the doctor may recommend wearing a special soft applicator that protects the teeth from injury and at the same time corrects the child's bite.

To relieve the nervous strain of the child, we can recommend a good rest, soothing baths before bedtime, a massage course. You can also take sedatives, but only after consulting a pediatric neurologist.

Involuntary grinding of teeth during sleep is called bruxism. It is paroxysmal in nature and can last for several minutes. In children under seven years of age, it occurs in about 30-40% of cases, in adults - in 10-15%. The data is approximate, because lonely adults may not know they are suffering from bruxism. The disease is not life-threatening, but it can still lead to some unpleasant consequences. What exactly? We will talk about this in the article. We will also find out why bruxism occurs, how it is diagnosed and whether it is possible to cure it.

The main symptom of bruxism is teeth grinding during the night. But there are cases when a person grinds his teeth during the day. It is believed that this occurs only in people who have an unbalanced nervous system. But this fact has not been scientifically confirmed. Finding out the exact cause of the pathology and prescribing competent treatment is a very difficult task for the doctor. Therefore, it is important to detect signs of pathology in time and undergo a comprehensive examination.

Science clearly knows the mechanism of occurrence of bruxism. The chewing muscles are constrained by a spasm, the jaws are tightly closed and involuntary movements begin in different directions - left-right and back and forth. The teeth begin to rub against each other surfaces, from which there is a characteristic sound (grinding or creaking). This state does not last long - a few seconds, very rarely up to a minute.

During an attack, a person may:

1. slow down the pulse;
2. lower blood pressure;
3. breathing is disturbed (even stopping is possible - apnea).

Indirect signs that can indicate to a person the presence of bruxism are:

1. tinnitus;
2. dizziness;
3. insomnia;
4. depression;
5. sleepiness during the day;
6. ear or sinus pain;
7. emotional tension;
8. psycho-emotional disorders that do not have objective causes.

Bruxiomania - what is it?

Bruxiomania is called daily grinding of teeth. It occurs much less frequently, because. during the day, a person can control the movements of his jaws. This condition occurs during a period of stress or at times of strong emotional overload. A psychologist helps to cope with such phenomena.

Why does bruxism occur?

Medicine knows the main causes of the pathological condition. It:

1. Inflammatory processes in the joint of the lower jaw. Inflammation of the mandibular joint leads to a violation of its functionality. This is manifested by clicks during a strong opening of the mouth, for example, when yawning. Chronic inflammation provokes an increase in nerve impulses, which leads to spasms of the masticatory muscles. The jaws are compressed, begin to move, a rattle appears. This process is in the nature of a vicious circle - the spasm is provoked by inflammation, but the gnashing attacks themselves support the inflammatory process, preventing it from completing.
2. Deviations in the work of the nervous system. This is the reason that causes bouts of daytime bruxism. However, the nervous system cannot completely turn off at night, the person does not relax completely and begins to grind his teeth in his sleep. The features of this type of deviation are seizures during phases of REM sleep (when the eyes twitch, involuntary muscle movements are present), snoring, talking in a dream. During the day, people with a nervous breakdown, in moments of strong concentration and excitement, bite pencils and pens, or nails.
3. neurotoxins in the body. These types of toxic substances include alcohol and smoking. That is, people suffering from bad habits will experience bouts of bruxism.
4. dental problems. Basically, these are pathologies or anomalies in the structure of the teeth and jaws. For example, these are poorly made fixed dentures, malocclusion, difficult eruption of the eighth teeth, poorly placed implants, or inflammation in nearby tissues. Other contributing factors are adentia (lack of one or more teeth), poorly installed fillings.

Rhinitis, sinusitis and adenoids do not lead to night grinding of teeth.

Worms and bruxism

In children, this disease is very common. Approximately 30% of patients turn to doctors with this problem. The reasons lie in the following:

1. the child is overtired;
2. there are anomalies in the structure of the jaws and bones of the facial skeleton;
3. have adenoids;
4. bite is wrong;
5. the child has had an infectious disease;
6. hereditary factor (bruxism of one of the parents is present in 80% of all cases);

Often, teeth grinding occurs in a child during the period of weaning from the nipple.

Association with epilepsy

A number of studies have been directed to identify the link between bruxism and epileptic disorder. Several factors are noted:

1. Bruxism is closely related to sleep talking and sleepwalking.
2. Grinding of teeth is associated with loss of consciousness (if they were before), but is not accompanied by them.
3. There is no direct link between grinding teeth and epileptic seizures.
4. Children with hyperactivity often suffer from bruxism. They begin to sit, stand and talk earlier than others.

https://youtu.be/g3GzAeTLLGI

How is bruxism treated?

The main principle of treatment is to identify the true cause. Depending on the provoking factors, doctors use the following treatment methods:

1. Correction of bite and anomalies of the structure by wearing special caps. The duration of treatment is at least 3 months.
2. Visiting a psychotherapist. It will help you learn to relax and unload the nervous system.
3. Treatment by specialists in the field of orthopedics.
4. Drug treatment (antidepressants, vitamins containing calcium, magnesium, B12, ascorbic acid, sedatives).
5. Physiotherapy (treatment with a laser or warm compresses).
6. Treatment at the dentist (for example, leveling the surface of the teeth).
7. Prescribing sedatives to prevent stress.
8. The use of plastic splints - special pads on the teeth that prevent their abrasion.
9. Devices that push the lower jaw forward. Designed to relieve snoring, but also help prevent teeth grinding.

Botox injections are an interesting treatment method. In this case, the drug plays the role of a protective substance. It prevents involuntary muscle contraction.

To start treatment, you need to contact your dentist. He will conduct an examination and then, as necessary, refer to other specialists. The problem cannot be ignored. The teeth are the first to suffer from bruxism. They wear out, there is a decrease in the gums. In the future, inflammatory processes can develop, which will lead to tooth loss.

Hardware correction - caps

If it is difficult to identify the true cause of bruxism, doctors will offer local therapy - the use of mouthguards for teeth. They will help keep your teeth, save them from abrasion and destruction. Also, the devices help relieve stress from the jaws.

Bruxism caps are made from silicone. They are:

1. They prevent loosening and displacement of teeth.
2. Protect from destruction.
3. Reduce the load on the muscles of the face and on the joints of the jaw.
4. Protect braces (if any).

Caps are made strictly individually, adjusting them to the structural features of the jaws. As a care, it is recommended to rinse the trays with warm water in the morning and evening, clean the outer part of the device with a brush, store it in a case or in a glass of water. Caps must be replaced as needed. Therefore, periodically they need to be taken to the attending physician to assess the condition.

Device types:

1. single jaw caps;
2. double jaw caps (used in advanced cases);
3. daytime (worn constantly, used to treat daytime manifestations of bruxism);
4. night (worn only at night, protect teeth);
5. resonating (designed to relieve muscle spasms, are prescribed only for intense bruxism).

What can you do on your own?

1. Psychotherapeutic methods - relaxing massage, warm baths, calm walks.
2. Relaxation of the jaws during the day. You need to learn to clench your jaws only in the process of chewing, the rest of the time to keep them relaxed.
3. Forced fatigue of the jaw muscles. To do this, before going to bed, you need to actively chew gum for 3 minutes on each side, until you feel tired.
4. Application of warm compresses. Apply to cheekbones. They relieve tension and reduce pain.

Prevention methods

To avoid severe manifestations of bruxism, the following preventive measures can be taken:

1. Before going to bed, relax - for example, take a warm bath.
2. Do not overwork and do not overload the nervous system before going to bed (exclude aggressive films, computer games and music).
3. Don't overeat before bed.
4. Exhaust your muscles by chewing gum, an apple, or a carrot.
5. Take tea with soothing herbs - chamomile, lemon balm, mint.
6. Walk outdoors in the evenings. This will help keep the nervous system normal.

Bruxism is not a serious disease with dangerous consequences. But this is an unpleasant phenomenon that causes inconvenience to both the patient himself and the people around him. Timely diagnosis and treatment will help to cope with the manifestations of bruxism and relieve possible problems.

Nighttime teeth grinding: is bruxism dangerous?

Bruxism is an intermittent grinding of the teeth due to involuntary spasm of the masticatory muscles and clenching of the jaws. This unpleasant phenomenon often manifests itself at night - a person grinds his teeth in a dream, but there is also daytime bruxism (bruxiomania) - as a rule, a person is aware of the problem and is actively trying to fight it.

The word "bruxism" has Greek roots and means "teeth grinding". In addition to unpleasant sounds and sensations, bruxism often leads to tooth abrasion, the formation of various dental defects, gingivitis, problems with the jaw joints, pain in the masticatory muscles, and even headaches.

Night bruxism in children is a very common phenomenon (it occurs in 50% of children) and if the child has not yet lost milk teeth, then you should not worry. If a child has daytime bruxism, then it is worth consulting with a specialist. In adults, this disorder is much less common (about 10% of cases). Often people do not even know that they grind their teeth in a dream and are surprised to learn about it from relatives (or spouses).

Symptoms in adults and children

• Grinding of teeth, snapping of teeth.
• An attack of bruxism lasts 10-15 seconds, periodically repeats, the intervals between attacks are not the same and are individual for each person.
• During the grinding of teeth in a dream, a person does not wake up and does not remember that he grinded his teeth at night.
• During an attack, rapid breathing occurs, blood pressure may change, and the pulse quickens.
• In the morning - toothache, headache, sometimes - pain in the neck, shoulders, back, pain when chewing.
• During the day - drowsiness, dizziness, pain and ringing in the ears, nervous tension, depression.
• Sleep disorders.
• Blood in the mouth, loosening and loss of teeth, enamel cracks, damage and loss of crowns, destruction of fillings, inflammation of the gums, malocclusion.

Reasons for this phenomenon

Bruxism is a very unpleasant phenomenon, but it is not considered a disease. Bruxism can be put on a par with snoring, sleepwalking, nightmares - those conditions that occur involuntarily and are very difficult to cure. A person should be able to fully control the movements of the facial muscles, but if a person falls asleep, and the facial muscles are still tense and continue to contract, then the jaws spontaneously contract, this is accompanied by a creak of teeth.

Bruxism is a problem not only in the field of dentistry, but also in neurology, psychology, otolaryngology, and gastroenterology. And each of the listed medical areas gives its own explanations for the causes of bruxism.

From the point of view of dentistry, the cause of bruxism is malocclusion, adentia, improperly installed braces, crowns, fillings, as well as dentists during dental treatment. All this leads to deformations of the teeth, as a result of which the upper and lower teeth cling to each other and teeth grinding occurs.

From the point of view of psychology, the causes of involuntary clenching of the jaws are stress, overexertion, depression, and nervous experiences that cause sleep disturbances. Thus, the muscles of the face are tense all the time, and the jaws are compressed, which leads to a spasm of the masticatory muscles.

From the point of view of neurology, the cause of teeth grinding is a disorder of the nervous system, because bruxism is often combined with tremor, epilepsy, and apnea. The tension of the masticatory muscles can be caused by damage to the motor neurons of the trigeminal nerve. In this case, bruxism is rather a symptom of a more serious disease of the nervous system.

After analyzing several thousand cases of bruxism, doctors noticed that people suffering from Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, abusing alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, sleeping pills are prone to grinding their teeth. Other risk factors are traumatic brain injury, chewing gum abuse, taking strong antidepressants. In addition, it was noticed that people most often suffer from bruxism, whose work requires the utmost attention (neurosurgeons, opticians, some military personnel, etc.), as well as people who use drugs and heavy smokers.

Differences between daytime and nighttime bruxism

It is customary to distinguish between nocturnal and daytime bruxism, depending on the time of day when it occurs. With daytime bruxism, its main cause is nervous strain and the general emotional state of a person. In this case, teeth grinding is more of a habit than a pathology, and it is treated with self-control and other psychological techniques. A person must learn to consciously control attacks of jaw clenching, constantly monitor himself - if it doesn’t work out on his own, then it’s better to turn to a psychologist who will suggest specific actions for this kind of self-control.

Nocturnal bruxism is involuntary, accompanied by a short, but regularly repeated grinding of teeth at night, i.e. during sleep. It is equally common in both men and women. Nocturnal bruxism in adults and children is slightly different in its causes, course and principles of treatment. Let's consider these features in more detail.

Adult teeth grinding

The main cause of bruxism in adults is severe stress, for example, the death of a loved one, fear, “let off steam” at work, dangerous work that requires maximum concentration and the search for quick solutions (police, army, special forces).

Also, grinding of teeth often occurs after the installation of dentures. A foreign body in the mouth causes discomfort, a person often rubs his teeth against a crown or bracket, without even noticing it. As a result, enamel suffers, the risk of caries increases, and the bite is disturbed.

Child grinding teeth

Bruxism in children is less dangerous than in adults. It usually appears in early childhood before the age of 5, and by the age of 6-7 it disappears on its own. The attack lasts no more than 10 seconds and is repeated several times a night. During the day, teeth grinding in children occurs less often, although parents often mistake the usual examination of their teeth for bruxism. But such a rattle is not dangerous.

But if a child has enlarged adenoids, nighttime bouts of bruxism last longer than 10 seconds, the child is naughty, he has difficulty chewing food, then you definitely need to show the baby to the dentist.

The cause of bruxism in children can be emotional overexcitation before bedtime (computer games, watching TV, outdoor games, etc.), so before sending the child to sleep, you need to calm him down, set him up for sleep, and if necessary, sing a lullaby, read a fairy tale.

Another reason is dinner shortly before bedtime, especially if the food is dense or unusual for the child. In this case, give your child yogurt or fruit an hour before bedtime so that the food is easier to digest in his tummy.

In addition, the child may have his own nervous shocks. For example, he was offended in kindergarten or his favorite toy broke - as a result of nervous tension at night, the baby can grind his teeth. In this case, it is important for parents to talk with the child, reassure, find out the essence of the problem and find a solution. And only then send to sleep.

Diagnostics

As already mentioned, often a person learns that he grinds his teeth from his relatives, who noticed this at night. Since the teeth suffer, if a person decides to start treatment, then he turns to the dentist. The dentist examines the oral cavity, determines a number of signs of bruxism, and performs the treatment of damaged teeth. Objective diagnostics is carried out with the help of a bruxchecker - a special mouthguard, selected individually for each patient. At night, the patient inserts a mouthguard into his mouth, then gives it to the doctor. The mouth guard determines the nature of the damage and identifies the places of the greatest load on the teeth.

Since the causes of teeth grinding often lie in the field of psychology, a consultation with a psychologist, neurologist and other specialists is necessary to diagnose bruxism.

Treatment Methods

Treatment options for bruxism depend on its cause and severity. As practice shows, it is most optimal to carry out a complex treatment of bruxism: dental, psychological, physiotherapeutic, medication. Let's take a closer look:

• Treatment of bruxism at the dentist: consultation with a periodontist, orthodontist, dental orthopedist, bite correction, replacement of deformed fillings and crowns.
• Treatment by a psychotherapist: psychotherapy, meditation, relaxation, self-control training, mitigation of the effects of stress, depression, etc.
• Drug treatment is aimed at reducing the activity of the masticatory muscles: sedatives and hypnotics, calcium, magnesium preparations, B vitamins, Botox injections, etc.
• Physiotherapy: relaxing massage, wet compresses on the jaw area.

Bruxism in children under 6 years of age does not need to be treated - by the age of 6-7 this phenomenon disappears on its own. However, it is still necessary to show the child to doctors, take tests, and identify the causes. If a child grinds his teeth during the day, then you need to teach him self-control, like an adult, so that he follows this habit of his.

Here are some other helpful treatments:

• Load on the jaw before bedtime - an hour before bedtime, chew on a carrot or an apple so that the chewing muscles get a load and contract less at night. You can also use chewing gum.
• Protective orthodontic mouth guards are pads on the teeth that are used as a barrier between the jaws so that they do not touch.
• A warm compress for the cheekbones - before going to bed and in the morning for 10-15 minutes to relieve pain.
• Self-control - when the mouth is closed, the teeth of the upper and lower jaw should not touch. Exceptions are only during eating and swallowing.

Self-treatment of bruxism, as a rule, is ineffective, you should consult a specialist. The longer a person delays going to the doctor about this problem, the more serious the consequences (wear and loss of teeth, impaired mobility of the temporomandibular joint, hearing problems, facial asymmetry, etc.) can be.

Prevention measures

• Avoiding severe stress, mitigating their consequences.
• Before going to bed, it is better to give up activity, overexcitation, psychological stress: it is better to watch a calm movie than a horror movie, it is better to read a book than to play computer games.
• An hour before bedtime, give a load to the jaws and chewing muscles - gnaw on a carrot or an apple.
• When the mouth is closed, the jaws should not touch - control yourself.
• Warm compresses on the cheekbones before bed will help relax the chewing muscles.
• Stop smoking, alcohol, strong tea or coffee.

Bruxism, or unconscious teeth grinding, can occur at any age. If in childhood this problem often goes away on its own, then adults cannot do without adequate treatment. Ignoring this symptom can lead to many unpleasant consequences, up to constant headaches and loss of teeth.

What is bruxism

Periodic bouts of bruxism occur in 10–15% of the adult population. They manifest themselves in the form of a strong compression of the jaws, creaking, tapping and clicking of the teeth. This occurs as a result of spasm of the masticatory muscles.

Most often, seizures occur in an unconscious state, during sleep. Waking up, a person does not remember what happened to him, and learns about such a peculiarity only from the words of his relatives.

Teeth grinding can disturb not only children, but also adults.

Attacks of bruxism usually last from 10-15 seconds to a minute and are repeated at individual intervals. At the same time, a person's blood pressure rises, the pulse quickens, and breathing is difficult.

Teeth grinding has several official scientific names at once: bruxism, odonterism, Carolini phenomenon.

Doctors do not consider this condition a pathology and equate bruxism with snoring, sleepwalking and nightmares.

Classification

Distinguish bruxism:

1. Day. This variety is quite rare, because in the waking state, people are usually able to control the movements of the muscles and jaws. Daytime bruxism affects men and women who are constantly under stress. To calm down, they gnaw pens and pencils, bite their lips and inner sides of their cheeks, bite their nails, and chew on foreign objects. At the moment when a person experiences strong tension or vivid emotions, his jaws involuntarily clench and creak, which can irritate others. Despite the fact that daytime bruxism seems to be just a bad habit, it is extremely difficult to get rid of it without the help of a psychologist.
2. Night. Teeth grinding during sleep is much more common, and gender and age do not matter. During the night, there are usually several attacks, and the person may not even be aware of this until the symptoms of bruxism become apparent. Among the most striking manifestations are the erasure of tooth enamel, pain in the jaw joints and damage to the gums.

If you can get rid of daytime bruxism with the help of constant self-monitoring, then nighttime bruxism requires a more comprehensive approach to treatment. In addition, its diagnosis, especially early, is rather difficult, since it is almost impossible to notice seizures without outside help. A person can suspect this condition only by the totality of certain symptoms.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of bruxism include the following phenomena:

• headache in the morning;
• pain in the ears and paranasal sinuses;
• discomfort after sleep in the jaws, neck, shoulders, and back;
• pain during chewing;
• toothache;
• numbness of the jaws upon awakening;
• visual enlargement of the jaw muscles;
• increased tearing and eye irritation;
• clicks in the maxillofacial joints;
• dizziness;
• tinnitus;
• drowsiness, feeling of weakness;
• depressed state, turning into depression;
• loss of appetite;
• insomnia or restless sleep.

Bruxism almost always provokes the erasure of enamel, which, in turn, leads to an increase in the sensitivity of the teeth: they begin to react to too hot, too cold, as well as sweet and sour foods. A visit to the dentist will help to detect odontism in time and take measures to eliminate it.

The reasons

In the treatment of gnashing, it is very important to establish the true cause of this phenomenon. All reasons can be grouped into 6 groups. Depending on the area in which the roots of the problem lie, a person may need to consult a certain narrow specialist.

In addition, at risk:

• patients with Huntington's chorea;
• persons with brain injuries or neoplasms in the organ;
• people suffering from Parkinson's disease;
• men who have a genetic predisposition to bruxism.

Whatever the cause of bruxism, it is important to identify the problem in a timely manner and take measures to eliminate it.

Should bruxism be treated?

It may seem that bruxism is not such a serious problem. However, if nothing is done, then a number of dental problems may occur:

In addition to dental problems, people suffering from bruxism may develop permanent psychological discomfort. They begin to feel like a hindrance, they develop an inferiority complex, become withdrawn and irritable. And if you add to this fatigue, constant headaches and spasms of the facial muscles, which are often companions of bruxism, then a person may well become depressed. Diagnosis

Grinding of teeth, especially if it occurs infrequently, is not a reason to be treated for bruxism. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis, and you should start with a visit to the dentist. According to the state of the coronal part, the specialist immediately recognizes the beginning Carolini phenomenon, and to confirm his suspicions, he can use a bruxchecker. This is a special kappa that is inserted into the mouth at night. By the nature of its damage, it is easy to determine which teeth have the maximum load at night.

Electromyography is the main method for diagnosing bruxism

The next specialist to visit if bruxism is suspected is a neurologist. If necessary, he will refer the patient to electromyography (EMG), a method that allows you to determine how well the masticatory muscles work, by measuring their electrical activity.

A dentist can also send an EMG, but it’s better to visit a neurologist to rule out pathologies in this area.

If there are no problems with neurology, it is worth paying a visit to a psychologist, otorhinolaryngologist, gastroenterologist and osteopath.

Treatment

After the final diagnosis, you need to immediately proceed to treatment. If the grinding of teeth is provoked by problems with the teeth, the therapy will be quick and will take place in the dentist's office.

Attention! Dental procedures for the restoration of teeth destroyed by bouts of bruxism should be carried out only after the main cause of this condition has been eliminated.

It is already more difficult to cure the pathology of the respiratory or auditory tract, as well as to solve the problems of neurology and the gastrointestinal tract. The longest time will have to eliminate the psychological causes of bruxism.

Be prepared for the fact that you have to learn to relax (both the nervous system in general and the masticatory muscles in particular). This can be achieved by various methods, and it is desirable to use them in combination.

The following relaxation techniques help with bruxism:

1. Yoga and meditation. Almost all meditation techniques are a great way to relax and relieve stress. You can learn yoga on your own, but it is better if an experienced instructor tells about its intricacies, and classes will take place in groups.
2. Breathing exercises. The simplest breathing exercises help to relieve stress: a deep breath through the nose, holding the breath for a few seconds, a long exhalation through the mouth.
3. Physical exercise. Physical activity helps to relieve nervous tension and stimulates the production of "happiness hormones" - endorphins.
4. Massage. You can relax your jaw and chin with self-massage. Grasp the lower jaw with your palms and make light circular movements with your fingers.
5. Relaxing baths. It is a good idea for people suffering from bruxism to get in the habit of taking a warm, relaxing bath before bed. For greater effect, you can use a variety of additives: sea salt, essential oils (lavender, sandalwood, valerian), herbal decoctions, oat straw, coniferous extract, etc.
6. Compresses. To relieve tension from the jaw, you can use a warm, wet compress. Wet a washcloth in warm water, wring it out and apply it to the problem area - this will soothe the pain and relax the muscles.
7. Special exercises. A good effect can be achieved if you regularly do exercises to relax the muscles of the jaws and chin:
   1. Open your jaws and rest your tongue against the upper palate. This exercise is very useful to do before going to bed.
   2. Press your fingers on your chin, pushing it back, open your mouth and close it with force. The lower jaw should be relaxed. This exercise should be repeated 15 times in the morning, afternoon and before bed.

Yoga and meditation practices are a great way to relieve stress that provokes bruxism

In parallel with relieving stress, do not forget to take care of your teeth. It is impossible to cure bruxism in one day, and each attack has a negative effect on enamel and gums.

To protect teeth from destruction, the dentist can pick up a special device. Most often used:

• mouth guards for bruxism;
• night or day tires;
• trainers;
• pads with a spring, pushing the lower jaw.

To prevent deformation of the teeth, individual mouthguards are used

All these devices protect the teeth, but they do not cure bruxism. If the grinding is caused by a psycho-emotional state, the doctor may prescribe:

• taking sedative drugs (Persen, Novo-Passit);
• Botox injections;
• psychotherapy sessions;
• hypnosis.

Prevention

Having got rid of bouts of bruxism, do not forget about the prevention of this condition. Adhere to the following rules:

1. Make sure that your teeth are not clenched during the day.
2. Try to play sports.
3. Get outdoors more and walk more often.
4. Instead of strong tea and coffee, drink herbal preparations from mint, lemon balm, linden, valerian, hops, chamomile, calendula, etc.
5. Adjust your diet: minimize sweets and fast food, increase the amount of raw vegetables and fruits.
6. Adhere to a sparing daily routine: rest more, go to bed on time, do not load yourself with overwork.
7. Don't eat before bed.
8. In addition, use B vitamins, as well as calcium and magnesium supplements. However, this should be done after consulting a doctor and the necessary tests.
9. Avoid stress.

There is a theory that if you bring the jaw to fatigue during the day, the number of nighttime attacks of bruxism will be minimal. Therefore, nutritionists recommend chewing hard carrots, apples and nuts more often.

Following these simple rules will help you forget about bruxism forever, which is so destructive to your teeth and annoying to loved ones.

What to do if you grind your teeth at night - video

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