Bruxism

¿What is bruxism?

Bruxism, known as teeth grinding during sleep comprises involuntary movements that includes circular or transverse movements of the lower jaw making teeth to come in contact with a typical sound produced by friction between opposite sides of the denture. Often bruxism comes with clenching teeth which also ends in devastating consequences for gum, teeth an TMJ (where jaw meets the cranium). Another dysfunction that comes along with bruxism is teeth clenching. Both are part of an unconscious behavior which occurs while one is asleep and is related as a response to stress. Who suffers from bruxism poses a great deal of tension over the mastication muscles which in turn apply high pressures to dental pieces provoking rupture, loosening, inflammation, hypersensitiveness or cracks in dental enamel; teeth become sensitive to acid food as well as hot and cold. Bruxing is related to experiencing or anticipating stress situations and has inherited components. The best is to prevent it.

¿How can I know I am a bruxer?

Bruxing effects are seen in areas related to mastication. One of those areas is the gum where there could be a slight inflammation (swelling) in the morning. Some times when bruxing is severe, there may be some loosening of teeth that disappears during the day. Another very important area is the TMJ, the joint where the jaw meets the cranium. This area is affected when teeth wear out or when severe bruxing is present. Pain in neck, headache, tinnitus, vertigo or even neuralgia can appear as symptoms with apparent not known etiology to the doctor or dentist (unknown origin).
The body is prepared for mastication during meals but bruxing may last all night, This continuous grinding may end up in damage to dental structures that can be prevented if you seek advice from doctors or dentists to confirm it. Prevention is necessary since bruxing may cause irreversible damage to dental pieces, gums, TMJ and sleep.
Among others symptoms may include:

• Difficulties to fall asleep and insomnia.
• Stress, nervous tension or anxiety.
• Wear or alteration of dental enamel.
• Loosened teeth.
• Breakage of teeth or fillings.
• Rupture of molar cusps or signs of lateral wear.
• Teeth sensitiveness to hot or cold food.
• Tear or inflammation of gums.
• Pain or inflammation in the mandible or TMJ (Temporo-mandibular joint).
• Chronic pain in facial muscles.
• Pain in back or neck.
• Pain in ears, vertigo or tinnitus.
• Frequent headaches.
• Typical sound from teeth grinding during sleep from friction between opposite teeth enamel.

These symptoms are signs of bruxing and do not appear all at once. This signs are a reason to check with your dentist, health professional or doctor. It is strongly recommended to visit a health professional to confirm the symptom in order to take measures before irreversible consequences on teeth may settle down.

What are my options to treat my bruxism (teeth grinding) and sleep issues for this cause?

Basically bruxism can only be treated by palliating devices since its origin is related to stress; that is the reason why currently there is no final cure. Instead, a device called dental splint or night guards are used.
There are two types of night guards, both based on different concepts to treat bruxism, they both propose to place an intermediate layer between upper and lower maxilla:
One hard splint called Michigan, a night guard normally recommended by dentists requiring an expensive handmade device by a lab technician and the new FERUFLEX®) flexible, soft and low cost universal fit splint that will additionally help healing the gums by preventing excess pressure on teeth.
The new Feruflex, flexible splint introduces significant advantages for the comfort of the bruxing patient. FERUFLEX® does not restrict the stress relieving nature of bruxing, allows free biting and grinding movements: bruxing on a soft surface buffers pressure on soft tissues and completely prevents contact between opposite teeth enamels.
The user may adapt the universal fit to his or her own mandible size by simply cut the ends of the device as instructed on the label.
FERUFLEX® flexible dental splint is made of high technology thermoplastic nontoxic, resilient material that can easily be fit into the upper maxilla and stay there while bruxing.
Feruflex is made of thousands of micro fibrils per square centimeter which allow its resilient property, this is, recovering shape after biting. Its horse shoe conformation makes it be firmly settled in the upper jaw in order to help as a buffering cushion against constant biting forces of bruxing. FERUFLEX®, flexible dental splint does not need medical or dental prescription and results will show immediately after use.
Comfortable to use, with no side effects after 10 years of clinical practice. Easy to apply to any kind of user or denture and can be used immediately after opening the package with no previous dental preparation. Another advantage is the cost which is a fraction of the hard conventional splint with same or better results.

To live with bruxism – some natural solutions

Stress and anxiety is behind the cause of bruxism. There is no clinical study showing the heritability of bruxism, however it may appear as a heritable trait in family lines. The following although not statistical studies have been made on this matter are natural ways to fight bruxism:

• Avoid or reduce consumption of foods or beverages containing caffeine, colas, chocolate or coffee before going to rest.
• Avoid the habit of following compass of music with your teeth.
• Avoid chewing gum, since it strengthens jaw muscles, making bruxing more severe.
• Avoid biting hard texture food like candy or meat that needs long chewing.
• Drink water every day (1,5 liters).
• Train to relax your neck muscles before going to sleep.
• Create the habit of discharge tension from your thighs before going to bed by doing flexions with thighs open in 120 degrees (maximum 30 repetitions per night).
• Learn and practice relaxing techniques of the Tension-Relaxation kind, specially recommended for tension relief.
• Yoga and meditation are especially effective to relieve physical and psychological tension.
• Learn to relax the muscles of the face and mandible during the day. Create the habit of relaxing facial muscles while waiting in a queue or a red traffic light.
• Stretching exercises.
• Find tender points in neck, shoulders and face and press then for some minutes. This will relieve tension locally and in neighboring muscles.
• Create a good sleep environment by not watching television before sleep, set a pleasant temperature in the room, prevent noises and set all lights off.
• Prayer and conscious meditation are excellent methods to reduce stress. These increase emission of alpha brainwaves (associated to relaxation).

Bruxism in the child

These are rare cases but when it happens bruxism is not the first idea of etiology because parents do not expect the child suffering from stress. However, it is good to check the child´s denture when the family goes through periods of crisis and watch the genetic component (someone in the family line having bruxism). These children are very sensitive to mistreatment, physical or psychological, watch aggressive arguing between parents: comments on others mishaps or offenses, watch their reaction when dealing with authorities among other circumstances.
The child may not show any actual reaction on the scene but perceives something wrong and becomes nervous. If the family is not receptive to this restlessness, and stimuli continues, the child will show signs of stress and bruxing is one of the signs. Teeth grinding will show up.
FERUFLEX® flexible dental splint can be adapted to the mouth child anatomy and will prevent destruction of dental pieces, protecting soft tissue damage and secondary consequences as are headaches or tinnitus.