Bruxism is
a medical term used to define the habit of clenching or
grinding teeth. The severity of the condition is varied
in the way it manifests in different people. Bruxism is
a common condition that afflicts hundreds of people and
it can potentially cause intense stress and eventually
lead to other related health complications. Bruxism
needs to be correctly understood and identified in order
to deal with it in the most effective manner that will
yield a positive long term relief.
The
typical symptoms of Bruxism
- Grinding
or clenching of teeth especially during sleep time
(waking up with a tired jaw or
teeth)
- Headaches
and pain in the regions of the neck or
shoulders
- Sensitive
teeth
- Clicking
sound in the jaw when opening or closing
mouth
- Pain in
jaw or ears or sides of face
The
presence of any or all of these symptoms could indicate
the presence of Bruxism.
Detection
of Bruxism is important because early treatment of the
condition can prevent some of the associated indications
that can creep up following a prolonged bout of the
problem. Most often, prolonged Bruxism can lead to the
occurrence of severe headaches, temporomandibular joint
dysfunction, muscle pain and teeth damage. The
ramifications of Bruxism can also extend to
psychological conditions resulting from stress and
disturbed sleep patterns. It is therefore best that a
quick treatment is sought for after consultations with a
specialist.
Common
treatments prescribed for
Bruxism
- Exercises
focused on the head and neck
regions
- Change
in sleep positions
- Use of
mouth guards and other coping
techniques
- Drugs to
relieve acute symptoms
- Psychotherapy
- Dietary
treatments
- Stress
reduction therapy
- Surgical
treatments
The exact
degree of success of a treatment for Bruxism will depend
on correctly identifying the root cause of Bruxism
followed by the most suitable treatment that will offer
a permanent cure. A lot of people suffering from Bruxism
are known to have spent a lot of time and money trying
out several methods of curing Bruxism, with little or no
relief.
The fact
is that unless a Bruxism treatment accepts the fact that
the problem is really multifactorial and therefore
requires a holistic manner of treatment, one cannot
possibly hope for a truly positive and real cure to the
condition. The only sure shot treatment of Bruxism is a
multidisciplinary approach that focus on the root causes
of the problem and its
manifestations.
