Bruxism in adults treatment. Bruxism in adults: a harmless condition or a dangerous problem? Two forms of the disease

About 30% of the inhabitants of the earth involuntarily grind their teeth at night. This symptom is medically known as bruxism. It is not dangerous, but it negatively affects the condition of the teeth and jaw joints. No one can say for sure how to treat bruxism, since scientists still do not fully understand the mechanisms of its occurrence. But there are some developments on this issue. Salvation for many was the use of a special mouth guard for bruxism.

Symptoms of the disease

How can a person understand that he is suffering from bruxism? In rare cases, seizures occur during the day and are hard to miss. Nocturnal grinding of teeth is most often noticed by relatives of the patient. Such attacks last from a few seconds to several minutes and can be repeated many times during one night. In some cases, it helps to suspect "something is wrong" symptoms associated with bruxism or its consequences.

Often, nighttime attacks of bruxism have morning consequences in the form of pain in such organs:

• head;
• jaw bones or joints;
• nerves and muscles of the face;
• sinuses;
• shoulders;
• back.

Nighttime teeth grinding is also often accompanied by the following symptoms:

• dizziness;
• tinnitus;
• sleep disturbance;
• daytime sleepiness;
• feeling tired in the morning;
• nervous tension;
• depression;
• eye irritability;
• spasm of chewing muscles.

The worsening condition of the teeth can prompt a suspicion of nightly grinding of the teeth of a person. But this applies only to severe cases. So, when examining his oral cavity, he may notice:

• tooth loosening,
• abrasion of teeth or on enamel;
• curvature of the bite.

The mechanism of the appearance of involuntary grinding of teeth, scientists were able to explain only half. They know that the tension in the facial muscles that move the lower jaw is to blame. However, why a person loses the ability to control these muscles during sleep, and sometimes during wakefulness, remains a mystery to scientists. This explains the fact that bruxism today does not have reliable methods of treatment.

However, there are some theories on this subject in medical science. In explaining the mechanism of development of bruxism, the following assumptions received the greatest popularity and validity:

• A person loses the ability to control the muscles of the jaw due to overstrain of the nervous system, psychological illness, or the use of psychotropic drugs.
• The problem arises due to deviations of a neuralgic nature: damage to the trigeminal nerve, tremor, epilepsy, apnea, enuresis.
• Bruxism is associated with problems in the spine.
• Teeth grinding is caused by dental problems: improperly selected braces or dentures, deviations in the functionality of the jaw joint, which causes jaw curvature.

Note! In rare cases, bruxism in adults develops against the background of excessive consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, as well as beriberi. And also the reason may be the intentional holding of the jaw in a certain position in order to hide the bite defect.

Teeth grinding is considered mostly a psychological problem. In the vast majority of cases, the root lies in emotional overstrain and fatigue. That is why bruxism is often called the disease of businessmen. Although stress today is experienced by people of various professions, age and social status.

bruxism treatment

In order to cure bruxism as quickly as possible, it is important to contact the right specialist. You may need the help of a psychiatrist or psychologist, neurologist, osteopath or dentist. The patient himself can do much to alleviate his condition.

If as a result of frequent attacks there are problems with the teeth, treatment by a dentist must necessarily follow, regardless of the causes of the disease. In addition to eliminating defects in the dentition resulting from friction, the doctor can help combat the symptom itself by providing the patient with a special mouthguard for teeth used for bruxism.

Help from a psychologist

The actions of a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or psychologist will be aimed at helping a person change his outlook on life, get rid of accumulated grievances and conflicts that have arisen, and learn to show resistance to stress. He will tell you how to cure the problem that has arisen with the help of effective methods of relaxation. The doctor will pay special attention to the removal of spasms from the muscles of the face.

The competence of the psychiatrist and psychotherapist includes the selection of drugs to restore the emotional health of the patient. He may prescribe psychotropic, sedatives, or one of the types of physiotherapy. If bruxism in an adult appeared due to taking a drug, the doctor will cancel it or change the treatment regimen.

Additional Information. The result of psychological assistance usually does not come quickly, so in most cases you have to order a mouthguard that saves teeth in case of bruxism.

Help from a neurologist

For some clarifications, the neurologist may refer the patient to electromyography. This will determine the deviations in the masticatory muscle. How he will treat bruxism in the future depends on many factors. You may need medication to relax your facial muscles or physical therapy. In especially severe cases of bruxism in adults, especially if the cause is not established, Botox injections are used. This substance prevents the jaw muscles from contracting spontaneously. In any case, you need to find a qualified specialist and rely on him.

Help from an osteopath

Although teeth grinding is rarely caused by spinal problems, a visit to an osteopath will not be superfluous. A healthy spine in any case has a positive effect on the whole body and overall well-being. During the treatment, the osteopath will pay special attention to the muscles of the neck and face, which will help them relax. This can help with bruxism.

Additional Information. If bruxism attacks are rare and of low intensity, it is acceptable to leave the problem unattended. Children's teeth grinding, which often goes away on its own, is very common.

Dentist help

The dentist should be contacted with an unconfirmed suspicion of bruxism. This doctor also begins to find out the cause of the grinding of teeth, because the problem is related to the teeth. However, most often after visiting the dentist, a consultation with another specialist is required.

In many cases, a dentist is able to determine if a patient is suffering from bruxism by examining the oral cavity. To be sure, he can use a bruxchecker. This is a certain type of dental cap that the patient puts on during sleep, and when examining the damage left on it, the doctor determines whether there have been attacks of bruxism.

During the examination, the dentist will identify and, if possible, correct dental problems caused by bruxism. Whether one of the dental problems (wisdom teeth, crooked bite, improperly selected prosthesis or braces) is the cause of grinding, unfortunately, is quite difficult to find out. Basically, this is known experimentally, that is, as a result of treatment.

A dentist can provide their patient with a mouthguard that protects teeth from bruxism. She does not fight the causes of his appearance and does not reduce the frequency or intensity of attacks. The action of this specialized device is aimed at preventing the consequences of bruxism, reflected in the condition of the teeth.

Note! In order to reliably protect against bruxism, one should not choose typical options, but personalized, custom-made from a cast taken from the teeth. This approach is costly but effective.

Possible consequences

If bruxism attacks are frequent, and the person does nothing to stop them, sooner or later he will face some unpleasant consequences of this symptom:

• problems with teeth: cracks, abrasion, loosening, caries, destruction of fillings and prostheses;
• inflammation and bleeding of the gums;
• wounds in the oral cavity;
• bite curvature;
• problems with the temporomandibular joint.

In addition, constant bouts of bruxism are fraught with psychological discomfort. The patient feels exhausted, tired and depressed.

ethnoscience

With bruxism, treatment with folk remedies will not give a lasting effect, but it may somewhat weaken the attacks or even temporarily stop them. The following tools will help:

• Warm compress on the lower jaw before going to bed.
• Evening rubbing of the neck and jaw with remedies for muscle spasms.
• Internal use of tincture of valerian and other sedatives.
• Enrichment of the diet with foods containing calcium, magnesium and group B.
• Breathing exercises and special exercises for facial muscles.

Additional Information. Best of all, the muscles of the jaw relax two exercises. The first is that you need to open your mouth and rest your tongue against the upper palate. To perform the second one, pushing back and relaxing the lower jaw with the palm of your hand, slightly open and close your mouth.

Doctors are convinced that the actions of the patient himself play an important role in the treatment of bruxism. So, he should follow these tips:

• Try not to overwork, avoid stress.
• Keep your jaw relaxed throughout the day.
• Walk more, play sports.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine intake.
• Adjust the diet, paying special attention to the intake of calcium, magnesium and B vitamins.
• Chew uncut fruits and vegetables more often, especially before bed.
• Before going to bed, do not eat and avoid everything that excites the nervous system.

Teeth grinding is a symptom that has many unpleasant consequences. Which specialist and how will treat bruxism depends on the causes of its occurrence. Unfortunately, installing them can be quite difficult. If the provoking factors could be uncovered, the appropriate specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment for the patient. Special mouthguards help protect teeth during attacks. Applying folk advice and recommendations of specialists, the patient can significantly improve his condition.

Video: bruxism, what to do if you grind your teeth at night?

One of the unpleasant phenomena that every person encounters at least once in a lifetime is bruxism. Under this unfamiliar and formidable name, such a common condition of the human body as gnashing of teeth is hidden. Most often, this process occurs unconsciously and lasts a short time, while not causing any harm to the general condition of the body.

Medical studies show that this disease is diagnosed in about 1/7 of the world's population. Most often, the cause of the development of bruxism is a stressful environment or fatigue, but its development is not excluded in various diseases of the teeth in the oral cavity. In some cases, bruxism in adults becomes a habitual and permanent phenomenon, which can cause a lot of problems.

Symptoms of the disease

A feature of bruxism is the fact that any grinding of teeth occurs at an unconscious level. This phenomenon can be observed at almost any time of the day, both day and night.

In the event that grinding of teeth is observed in the daytime, then a person is independently able to identify this pathology. When a squeak of teeth occurs at night, most often such a pathological condition is reported to the patient by his relatives, in whom this phenomenon causes anxiety and discomfort.

Diagnosis of this disease is most often carried out by electromyography, the essence of which is the use of special sensors to determine the electrical activity of the muscles of the oral cavity.

However, such a diagnosis is an extreme measure, and therefore, before deciding on it, it is necessary to carefully analyze the signals that the body sends. The following manifestations of the body may indicate the night grinding of the teeth:

• pain in the neck;
• clicks in the jaw area;
• migraine;
• sensation of ringing in the ears.
• when waking up after sleep, there may be a slight numbness of the jaw.

Reasons for the development of pathology

To date, the causes of the development of bruxism in the human body are not fully understood. However, many experts believe that the main cause of bruxism lies in the psycho-emotional state of a person, that is, stressful situations and psychological disorders. In addition, the following causes of the development of pathology can be distinguished:

Neurologists about pathology

Many experts believe that the periodic occurrence of a nightly squeaking of teeth may indicate the development of some kind of disease of the nervous system in the body.

In addition, the tension of the jaw muscles can occur as a result of the pathological condition of the trigeminal nerve and its motor neurons. Dentists see the following reasons for the development of bruxism:

• violation of the correct taste;
• installation in the oral cavity of incorrectly selected prostheses or briquettes;
• poor quality filling.

In addition, the disease can develop in the presence of the following factors:

Popular opinion about the disease

In addition, bruxism in adults can develop for the following reasons:

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of bruxism begins with the elimination of its unpleasant symptoms and for these purposes is used:

• special tires;
• caps for bruxism;
• trainer.

In the event that the disease in the human body proceeds in an advanced form, then the treatment is carried out using:

• drugs that have a relaxing effect;
• Botox injections;
• hypnosis.

In order for the treatment to be effective, it is important to identify the true cause of the development of the disease. In the event that the source of the development of bruxism is psycho-emotional stress, then the treatment will be aimed at reducing the stress stop.

Diagnosis of malocclusion in a patient, which leads to the occurrence of gnashing of teeth at any time of the day, is the reason for contacting a doctor - an orthodontist. The specialist will conduct a thorough examination of the patient and choose effective ways to solve the problem.

In order for the treatment of the disease to be effective, the patient must learn to fully relax the muscles of the shoulders, mouth and neck. This can be achieved through means such as:

• special relaxation exercises;
• hot and cold compresses;
• self-massage.

In addition, the treatment of bruxism involves following a specific diet, which excludes caffeinated drinks and hard foods. The patient is advised to consume a large amount of liquid, enrich his diet with vitamin complexes, and any medications should be taken only after consulting a specialist.

Complications of the disease

Bruxism is a rather unpleasant pathological condition of the body, and in the absence of appropriate treatment, this can lead to unpleasant consequences. The progression of bruxism can lead to:

• caries;
• the development of the inflammatory process in the area of ​​periodontal tissues;
• severe headaches;
• pathological condition of the temporomandibular region;
• the formation of malocclusion;
• increase the sensitivity of tooth enamel.

Frequent bouts of teeth grinding can lead to a person developing a psychological inferiority complex and general discomfort. It is for this reason that when symptoms of the disease occur, both at night and during the day, an appeal to a specialist is required.

To some, grinding your teeth may seem like a nasty habit that doesn't deserve to be treated as much. However, bruxism may indicate the development of various diseases in the human body. Timely seeking help from a doctor will not only get rid of the pathology, but also improve the general condition of the body.

The condition in which a person's teeth clench involuntarily and grinding occurs is known medically as bruxism. What is it - a bad habit or a sign of some kind of malfunction in the body?

Although this phenomenon does not pose a mortal danger, it causes a lot of trouble to a person. Such uncontrolled chewing movements, which most often occur during a night's sleep, create increased stress on the temporomandibular joint. As a result, enamel is damaged, teeth are erased and loosened. In addition, the night grinding of teeth negatively affects the muscles, joints, emotional state of a person, and simply prevents others from sleeping.

Symptoms are aggravated by stressful situations, hard work. Most often this disease affects children, but it also occurs in adults. Both men and women are equally susceptible to the disease. Bruxism can occur at any age. The causes and treatment of this phenomenon are described in this article.

Causes of the disease

According to psychologists, stress, neurosis, depression can provoke the onset of the disease. In this state, a person's facial and temporomandibular muscles are tense, teeth are strongly compressed. During the day, the pathology is still manageable, and in a dream it manifests itself as a gnashing of teeth. Under stress, this phenomenon is periodic. With neurosis, which are the result of prolonged nervous tension, bruxism in adults is more often and more painful. The cause and treatment in this case is obvious. You need to stabilize the person.

Bruxism in adults may indicate the presence of complexes at a subconscious level. Perhaps a person cannot decide something in life, and this becomes the cause of anger, internal tension. It is possible that this problem is the result of repressed aggression. An educated person does not allow himself to throw out emotions, drives problems inside, which finds a way out during sleep and is manifested by a nightly rattle.

Bruxism can be observed in a person who suffers from sleepwalking, sleep apnea, it happens that the patient is simply tormented by nightmares. Squeaking teeth can be accompanied by serious malfunctions of the nervous system.

Dental problems, such as uncomfortable dentures or braces, and poorly placed fillings, can also provoke the development of a disease such as bruxism in adults. The cause and treatment in this case are determined by the dentist.

Provoke the development of the disease can be a tumor or brain injury, vitamin deficiency, the presence of bad habits, passion for antidepressants, sleeping pills, hereditary factors also play an important role.

Signs of the disease

The most common symptom of bruxism is grinding your teeth in your sleep. This lasts for a few seconds or minutes, and may repeat several times during the night. The attack starts suddenly. The disease may be accompanied by anxiety and tension, malnutrition, insomnia, irritability. Often this phenomenon is accompanied by stress and depression.

In addition, a person suffering from bruxism may experience headaches, ear pain, increased sensitivity of the teeth and the formation of cracks in them, pain in the facial muscles and jaw joints.

Diagnostics

To deal with such a problem, it is necessary first of all to see a dentist. Based on the patient's complaints and examination of the teeth, a diagnosis is made - "bruxism". The causes and treatment of this pathology are interrelated.

It may be necessary to conduct a polysomnographic study, with the help of which it is possible to fix a spasm of the masticatory muscles of a sleeping person to rule out epilepsy as the cause of the spasm.

Treatment

With a disease such as bruxism, it is difficult to establish the causes, which means that getting rid of this unpleasant phenomenon is quite problematic, but still real. The main task of treating nighttime teeth grinding is to relax the masticatory muscles.

Bruxism in children often resolves on its own. Adults need to pay special attention to treatment. It will be more successful if the problem is detected early.

The patient needs to unlearn the habit and creak with them during nervous tension, in a state of excitement, control their chewing movements. Psychotherapy has a positive effect, which helps to identify and understand the conflict, teaches to cope with everyday difficulties. To get rid of stress, it is recommended to walk a lot before going to bed, read books, listen to relaxing music. You can take which are sold in a pharmacy, it is permissible to prepare them yourself. To reduce the convulsive activity of the muscles during sleep, it is recommended to take drugs that contain calcium, magnesium and B vitamins.

The most effective treatments

These methods include the use of a mouthguard, which is selected individually and prevents the erasure of tooth enamel. In severe cases, the use of plastic splints is recommended - special overlays for teeth that prevent damage to them. These devices help reduce activity.

Protractors are successfully used for such a disease as bruxism. device in the form of two pads on the teeth, on springs. And they use it mainly to get rid of snoring, but it also copes well with such a problem as grinding teeth in a dream. With the help of such a device, the jaw and tongue are supported in the extended state, which helps to facilitate breathing. Botox is sometimes used to treat bruxism.

Kappa for bruxism

Nocturnal bruxism, unlike daytime bruxism, is uncontrollable. In this case, special night guards are used for treatment. The device is worn on the teeth before going to bed, which protects them from abrasion.

Kappa is made according to individual sizes. During a night attack, all the pressure falls on this device, which allows you to save tooth enamel and protect orthopedic structures. The use of a mouth guard avoids the displacement of teeth, which constantly rub against each other and become loose. Of course, the orthodontic appliance does not eliminate the cause of the disease, but protects the teeth from damage. Therefore, its use is only part of complex therapy.

Mouthguard making

For the manufacture of caps, special two-layer materials are used. For maximum comfort of the gums, the inside of the device is made soft. The hard outer part ensures the durability of this fixture.

The device is made to individual sizes, which ensures greater efficiency. Such a product will not slip or fall out during sleep, and will provide protection against excessive pressure on the teeth.

Kappa care is not difficult. In the morning, it should be rinsed with water from the inside. The outer part is cleaned with a toothbrush. To store the product, use a special case or a glass of water. The device must be shown to the dentist from time to time. He will assess the condition of the cap and, if necessary, recommend making a new one.

How to help yourself

For a person, the diagnosis of bruxism may come as a surprise. What it is and how to relieve symptoms is of interest to many. You can try to get rid of the tension of the jaw muscles with a warm, wet compress or, conversely, ice.

Massage of the face, neck and shoulder girdle, as well as relaxing exercises, also work well. During the massage, focus on pain points, when pressed, painful sensations are given to the head or face.

Learn how to relax as much as possible before going to bed, avoid stress. You can try drinking soothing teas or taking warm baths before bed. At night, you can chew something hard or at least chewing gum - this is tiring and at the same time soothes the muscles during the rest. Avoid foods rich in caffeine and carbohydrates, which lead to arousal of the body. Walk more in the fresh air, go in for sports.

Bruxism in Children: Cause and Treatment

With emotional stress, nervous strain, neurological disorders, children may experience bruxism. What is it and is treatment needed? This question worries many parents. If the disease is caused by disorders of the nervous system, a neurologist will help.

Bruxism in children may go away on its own with age. In case of malocclusion, abnormal structure of the dentition, orthodontic treatment may be necessary.

If the causes of bruxism in children lie in overexcitation and stress, the correct organization of the daily routine is necessary. The kid is useful for active walks in the fresh air. Offer your child solid food, which will help reduce the overactivity of the masticatory muscles. Before going to bed, it is necessary to exclude noisy games, massage, a warm bath are useful.

Parents should be alerted by severe attacks that last a long time. After them, as a rule, the child complains of a severe headache or toothache. There may be other unpleasant consequences of a disease such as bruxism in children. The cause and treatment in this case are determined by a specialist.

What is dangerous disease

Teeth grinding during sleep leads to enamel abrasion, loosening, tooth loss, headaches, discomfort in the neck and chewing muscles. In some people, the bones of the lower and upper jaws thicken, which is noticeable visually. A person suffering from bruxism experiences psychological discomfort, which affects the quality of life.

In children and young people, the disease often resolves on its own without causing any sequelae. Treatment in such cases is not required.

Folk methods of treatment

Bruxism in adults, which is caused by frequent stress and nervous strain, is successfully treated with the help of folk methods aimed at normalizing the emotional state.

In frequent stressful situations, it is recommended to perform a relaxing facial massage. Yoga classes help relieve stress. Useful baths with aromatic oils or soothing herbs (chamomile, valerian, mint), teas. You can make warm lotions from herbs that help relieve tension in the facial muscles. You need to keep such a compress for a long time.

Forecast

It is quite difficult to get rid of the problem on your own. Self-medication can result in serious consequences. With the problem of bruxism, it is necessary to contact a dentist who will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. If all the recommendations are followed, it is quite possible to get rid of the problem.

Bruxism is teeth grinding, a syndrome that is extremely unpleasant for the patient and quite problematic for the doctor. There is a version that bruxism is inherent in people with an unbalanced nervous system, but it is known for sure that this syndrome is diagnosed in 1-3% of the people of the entire population of the planet. Most often, doctors are faced with bruxism, which is actively manifested at night, but there are cases of the daytime type of the condition in question. Modern medicine knows perfectly well what causes can lead to the appearance of teeth grinding, and can explain the mechanism of bruxism in general: an involuntary spasm of the masticatory muscles occurs, the jaws close and uncontrolled movement begins in the lateral or anterior-posterior direction. During this process, the teeth are linked to each other by their surfaces (chewing), they move with sufficiently strong friction, which is why the rattle is heard.

During an attack of bruxism, a person may experience:

• slow heart rate;
• violation of breathing during night dreams, up to its stop (apnea);

Usually grinding (an attack of bruxism) does not last long - from a few seconds to several minutes.

Causes of bruxism in adults

There are well-defined causes of teeth grinding in adults:

Inflammatory process in the mandibular joint

In any case, such a pathological process ends with a violation of the functionality of the joints, and this phenomenon can be characterized by a click when opening the mouth - for example, when yawning or biting off large pieces of food / products. Inflammation of the mandibular joint, which occurs in a chronic form, provokes an increase in nerve impulses, which in turn stimulates a sudden spasm of the masticatory muscles. Muscles contract, the lower jaw is set in motion and teeth grinding is heard.

In general, in the case under consideration there is a “vicious” circle: the spasm of the masticatory muscles is provoked by a chronic inflammatory process, but it is this very spasm that supports the inflammation.

Disorders of the nervous system

Quite often, for this reason, people develop daytime bruxism, but during nighttime sleep, due to the “not turning off” the nervous system and the impossibility of complete relaxation, a person will also grind their teeth. It is worth knowing some features of the condition in question, which was provoked precisely by disorders of the nervous system:

Presence of neurotoxins in the body

There are a number of "household" neurotoxins that poison the body and have a destructive effect on the human nervous system. These include alcohol, nitro dyes and nicotine: if their effect on a person continues for some time, then the appearance of bruxism at night is considered an expected phenomenon.

Problems in the field of dentistry

The point is that the pathological phenomenon in question may arise not from or, but from pathologies and / or anomalies of the dentition and jaws. For example, bruxism may accompany:

• Poorly made/mismatched fixed dentures;
• severe eruption of the eighth teeth (difficult);
• improperly installed implants and a progressive inflammatory process in the soft tissues surrounding them.

Worms and gnashing of teeth: truth and speculation

Many people think that grinding their teeth during sleep is a sign in the body. Especially often this syndrome is mentioned in the case of helminthic invasion in childhood. By the way, our ancestors treated bruxism with garlic and pumpkin seeds, which is explained by a false misconception about the connection between teeth grinding and worms.

Official medicine has not found a direct connection between the phenomenon under consideration and helminthic invasions. Seriously, only three points that connect helminthic invasion and bruxism can be considered:

1. Infection with any kind of worms leads to a violation of the psycho-emotional background, a person becomes irritable, restless - such nervous disorders are one of the reasons for the development of bruxism.
2. When infected (this applies more to intestinal helminthiases), a deficiency occurs in the body. This, in turn, significantly impairs the functioning of the neuromuscular system, which is an unconditional factor leading to impaired functionality of the masticatory muscles.
3. Lack of vitamin B12, the development of anemia with helminthic invasion impairs the process of transporting oxygen to the brain, and this leads to a change in the depth of sleep. Against the background of such disorders, involuntary muscle contractions of the type of partial convulsions may occur.

Causes of teeth grinding in a child's sleep

Pediatric patients seek help from a pediatrician for nighttime teeth grinding in 30% of cases (median). The most common causes of childhood bruxism are:

• increased fatigue of the child;
• anomalies in the structure of the facial skeleton and jaws;
• asthenia;

Often, children begin to grind their teeth in their sleep against the background of a long course of an infectious disease, and some parents note the appearance of the syndrome in question during the period of weaning the baby from the nipple. Medicine does not ignore the hereditary factor - in 80% of cases, nocturnal bruxism was also present in the parents (or one of them) of the child.

Link between grinding teeth and epilepsy

Relatively recently, doctors conducted studies that were supposed to identify or exclude the connection between bruxism and. were published in the journal "Medical Bulletin of the North Caucasus" for 2011 (No. 2). Briefly, there are several aspects:

• revealed a direct relationship between teeth grinding and talking/walking in a dream;
• bruxism is also associated with loss of consciousness in the past, but never accompanied by them;
• a direct relationship between bruxism and epileptic seizures has not been identified;
• most often, gnashing of teeth is present in children with - they sit down earlier, begin to stand, walk and talk.

Principles of treatment for bruxism

It is quite difficult to get rid of the syndrome in question, first you need to find out the true cause of teeth grinding and only after that select effective methods of treatment. In medicine, the following methods of treating bruxism are used:

• hardware correction - wearing specially made caps for three months;
• attending training sessions with a psychotherapist to relieve stress and emotional relief;
• orthodontic and/or orthopedic treatment;
• drug therapy;
• physiotherapy - laser exposure and warming compresses;
• dental treatment;
• prevention and administration.

Some doctors use Botox injections as a treatment, which is useful in cases of advanced bruxism. Botox in this case is a protective substance that prevents spontaneous contractions of the jaw muscles.

It is impossible to specify exactly the specialty of the doctor to whom you need to contact about the gnashing of teeth, since it all depends on what exactly provoked the appearance of the syndrome in question. Patients are advised to first contact a dentist, and after the examination, he will refer the patient to the necessary specialists - a neuropathologist, orthodontist, psychologist or neurologist.

Note: the sooner there was an appeal for qualified medical help about the grinding of teeth, the greater the chance of success in treatment. Many people simply ignore bruxism, and this can result in abrasion of tooth enamel, the rapid spread of caries and inflammation in the soft tissues of the oral cavity, which ends in tooth loss.

What are bruxism mouthguards

During a night's sleep, a person is simply not able to control the body, so it will not work to stop / stop the grinding of teeth. This syndrome leads to tooth decay, so doctors quite often prescribe special caps for bruxism to their patients with the syndrome in question. Such a device alleviates the condition, protects teeth from abrasion and relieves stress on the jaw joints.

A bruxism mouthguard is a device made of silicone. It performs several important functions:

• serves as a prevention of loosening and displacement of teeth;
• protects teeth from destruction;
• protects braces (if any) from breakage;
• reduces the load on the facial muscles and joints of the jaws.

Note:in no case should you buy mouthguards from bruxism in pharmacies, since in this case they can even do harm. Such a device is made only for individual orders!

Mouth guards for bruxism are of several types:

• single-jaw and double-jaw - the latter type is used in particularly complex / neglected cases of bruxism;
• daytime - used to treat daily grinding of teeth, their constant wearing is shown;
• resonant - are prescribed by a doctor only with intense bruxism, are used to get rid of muscle spasms and displacement of the articular head;
• night - the most popular type of device, worn only before bedtime, protect teeth from abrasion.

Mouthguards are considered the most popular method of treating teeth grinding, but these devices need to be able to care for. Cap care rules:

• every morning they need to be rinsed inside and out with clean, running water;
• the outer part of the cap must be cleaned with a toothbrush;
• store the device in a glass of water or in a special case;
• Periodically, the cap is taken to the attending dentist for examination or replacement if necessary.

Procedures for the treatment of bruxism

The treatment of the syndrome in question must necessarily be comprehensive, because only in this way it will be possible to obtain the expected result. Experts recommend the following procedures as part of therapy:

To avoid the development of the syndrome in question, doctors recommend the following:

1. Before going to bed, it is advisable to take a relaxing bath (for example, with a decoction and mint, honey and milk).
2. Before a night's rest, you should not watch too emotional films, listen to aggressive music and read too impressive books.
3. In the evening, the use of fatty and large amounts of food should be excluded, and immediately before bedtime it is desirable to tire the muscles and joints with chewing movements, for which you can use an apple, chewing gum, carrots.
4. During the day we drink tea with chamomile, lemon balm.
5. It is highly desirable to take walks in the fresh air in the evening - this will help stabilize the nervous system and psycho-emotional background.

- recurrent episodes of involuntary contraction of the chewing muscles, accompanied by clenching of the jaws and grinding of teeth. In addition to the main symptom - teeth grinding, bruxism can lead to pathological abrasion and hyperesthesia of the teeth, the formation of wedge-shaped defects, periodontal and TMJ pathology, pain in the masticatory muscles, headache, etc. Bruxism is detected on the basis of complaints from the patient and his relatives, characteristic changes teeth, polysomnographic examination, electromyography. In the treatment of bruxism, psychotherapy, massage, physiotherapy, botulinum therapy, wearing protective mouthguards are used.

General information

Bruxism is a paroxysmal grinding of teeth that occurs due to spasm of the masticatory muscles, clenching of the jaws and their intense movement relative to each other. During the period of milk bite (from the moment of teething to 7 years), bruxism occurs in about half of children; the prevalence of the problem among adults is 5-10%. Bruxism in children and adults is spoken of if creaking and grinding of teeth occurs during sleep; if these manifestations occur during the daytime, this condition is regarded as bruxiomania. Bruxism and bruxiomania refer to parafunctions of masticatory muscles (oral parafunctions).

Causes of bruxism

Since the development of bruxism can be based on a complex of different causes and their combination, this problem is studied not only within the framework of dentistry, but also psychology, neurology, otolaryngology, gastroenterology. Consider the main etiological prerequisites for bruxism.

According to psychological theory, bruxism is a reflection of emotional distress, stress, overload, frequent affective states, overstrain, causing involuntary muscle contractions and gnashing of teeth. Bruxism is sometimes called the “disease of businessmen” who experience constant psycho-emotional overload, however, short-term episodes of bruxism in a dream can also occur in people who have a positive emotional mood.

The neurogenic theory of bruxism considers the problem from the point of view of disruption of the activity of the central and peripheral systems, leading to neurological and motor disorders. It has been noticed that bruxism is often combined with sleep disorders (somnambulism, snoring, nightmares, sleep apnea), tremor, enuresis, epilepsy. In addition, conditions such as trismus and bruxism can develop due to tonic tension of the chewing muscles when the motor neurons of the trigeminal nerve are affected.

The dental theory is based on the fact that various deviations in the structure and functioning of the dental system contribute to the occurrence of bruxism: malocclusion, dental anomalies (edentia, supernumerary teeth), poorly selected dentures or braces, poor-quality dental treatment, arthrosis and arthritis of the temporomandibular joint, etc. .

From the point of view of osteopathic theory, bruxism is interpreted as an attempt by the neuromuscular system to remove the blockage of the cranial sutures and restore the disturbed craniosacral rhythm. These phenomena in children may occur as a result of a complicated course of childbirth and birth trauma, dental anomalies, malocclusion, etc.; in adults - with improperly performed dental prosthetics, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, etc.

Other theories of bruxism, which are not widely accepted and reliable scientific evidence, associate cutting teeth with nasal breathing disorders (adenoids, deviated nasal septum, frequent rhinitis), gastroesophageal reflux disease, helminthiases (ascariasis, enterobiasis, etc.), malnutrition, chewing abuse rubber band, etc.

Persons suffering from Parkinson's disease and Huntington's chorea are prone to grinding their teeth. Bruxism in children can occur during periods of teething and changing teeth. Bruxism cofactors can be a recent traumatic brain injury, alcohol abuse, nicotine, caffeine, sleeping pills, antidepressants.

bruxism symptoms

Episodes of bruxism usually last about 10 seconds, but can be repeated many times a night, accompanied by the sound of grinding or clicking teeth. Usually, these symptoms are noticed by relatives of patients (parents, spouses), because during sleep a person does not control his condition and does not wake up from grinding his teeth. Attacks of teeth grinding are often accompanied by changes in breathing, blood pressure, and pulse.

In the morning, patients often report facial myalgia, toothache, pain in the jaw area, headaches, daytime sleepiness, dizziness. With a long course of bruxism, pathological abrasion of teeth, hyperesthesia of the teeth, wedge-shaped defects, chips and cracks in the enamel, and fractures of the crowns of the teeth can develop. The result of injury to the periodontal tissues during bruxism is inflammation in the periodontal tissues (periodontitis), loosening and loss of teeth. Excessive uncontrolled load on the teeth can cause chipping of restorations and fillings, chips of ceramics on artificial crowns, breakage of dentures.

Long-term consequences of bruxism and bruxiomania can be muscular-articular dysfunction of the TMJ: hypertrophy of masticatory muscles, restriction of jaw movement, pain in the temporomandibular joints, shoulder joints, neck. Constant traumatization of the oral mucosa in some patients with bruxism leads to the occurrence of gingivitis, lichen planus, oral fibromas, scalloped (toothed) tongue, and abrasions under removable dentures.

Diagnosis of bruxism

The fact of bruxism is usually established on the basis of subjective complaints of the patient and his relatives, as well as indirect signs detected by the dentist when examining the oral cavity. The method of objective diagnosis of bruxism is the use of the so-called brux checkers - special mouthguards made on the basis of a cast and model of the patient's jaw and allowing to determine the presence of occlusal obstacles. After wearing the kappa at night, it is transferred to the clinic for analysis; examining the brooks checker allows the dentist to determine which teeth are experiencing overload.

Pathological activity of the masticatory muscles can be registered during electromyography or polysomnography. A much more difficult task is to identify the causes of bruxism in a patient, which often requires the involvement of a number of related specialists: neurologists, psychologists, otolaryngologists, osteopaths, gastroenterologists.

bruxism treatment

Methods for treating bruxism depend on its causes and degree. In young children, bruxism usually does not require special treatment and comes on its own by 6-7 years. In adult patients, the maximum effect of the treatment of bruxism is achieved with an integrated approach using psychotherapeutic, medication, physiotherapy and dental techniques.

With bruxism caused by psychogenic factors, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy comes to the fore: biofeedback, relaxation and self-control methods, training, etc. Drug therapy for bruxism is aimed at reducing the convulsive activity of the chewing muscles during sleep and may include the appointment of light sedatives and hypnotics , magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, botulinum toxin injections, etc. In some cases, osteopathic treatment, manual therapy and massage sessions, and warm wet compresses on the jaw area may be indicated for bruxism.

Dental treatment of bruxism is carried out with the participation of various specialists: a general practitioner, an orthopedic dentist, an orthodontist. Attempts to cope with bruxism on their own, as a rule, are unsuccessful and often lead to disastrous consequences. If you realize the existence of this problem, you should seek professional advice from a dentist. Conducting a comprehensive diagnosis and choosing an adequate method of treatment allows you to permanently get rid of this obsessive pathological habit, prevent or eliminate the consequences of bruxism.

Prevention of bruxism involves the normalization of the psycho-emotional state, getting rid of bad habits, learning the techniques of self-relaxation and self-massage. An important link in the prevention of bruxism is the timely elimination of diseases of the teeth and the nervous system.