While
solutions to the oral condition of Bruxism (medical term
for teeth grinding) are many – depending on the nature
of the condition itself, Bruxism causes are not as
straight forward and indeed, not always correctly
reported.
What is
Bruxism ‘teeth grinding’?
The term
Bruxism refers to the habit of teeth grinding and (or)
teeth clenching at night during sleep times (or during
daytime as well, in some cases). The severity of
the teeth grinding actions can vary widely with
different people. For some Bruxism might exist without
the person being consciously aware of its existence. For
others Bruxism, especially sleep related teeth grinding,
can be more chronic and may lead to serious damage to
teeth and gums and cause other related health issues as
well.
The cause
of Bruxism is rarely a unanimous verdict. However most
would agree that Bruxism is a multi causal condition.
There can be several causes and factors that can trigger
off teeth grinding; in many cases an unconscious habit
of teeth grinding can end up as a serious condition
causing damage to teeth – at the very least. In other
instances, there are explicit physical (and
physiological) conditions that can cause teeth
grinding.
Acute and
chronic cases of Bruxism often cause pain and intense
damage to teeth and jaws.
Some
common causes of Bruxism
The
following are some of the more common causes of Bruxism
as indicated by case studies on
patients:
- It is
widely acknowledged in current medical theories that
stress and anxiety are huge contributory factors to
the habit of Bruxism teeth
grinding
- Mal
alignment of teeth and other dental disorders can
directly cause teeth grinding
- Ear
disorder or an ear infection can indirectly lead to
teeth clenching or teeth
grinding
- Jaw
joint disorder or upper spinal dysfunction in certain
cases cause Bruxism
- Arthritis
can cause Bruxism symptoms
- Whiplash
injuries are also known to contribute to some of the
Bruxism symptoms
- Dietary
factors and eating disorders can aggravate or cause
teeth grinding
- Sleeping
postures and sleep habits
- Sleep
disorder or insomnia are contributory
factors
- Drug
interactions and side effects of medications /
chemicals cause Bruxism
- Life
style factors are serious underlying factors leading
to bruxism
- Childhood
Bruxism is less understood but it is also outgrown
naturally without any
intervention
An
examination by a specialist will be helpful in
identifying the root causes of an individual’s
Bruxism.
