How to Handle Sleep Bruxism

About eight to 10 per cent of the adult population has a secret disease called sleep bruxism, a sleep disorder characterized by grinding or clenching of teeth. Some people do it unconsciously, even when they are awake. Stress is usually something to do with it, but the origins of the disease are very varied. The effects of bruxism is rarely far from being as bad as during sleep when the protection mechanisms of the body are off. Without proper treatment, the disease can cause serious damage to teeth and surrounding tissues, as well as headaches and trigger pain in the jaw.

Bruxism can be a real nuisance. “It’s like having a position of great football players on the tooth,” said Dr. Noshir Mehta, chairman of General Dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and director of its Center for Craniofacial Pain.

In normal circumstances, the teeth of a contact person for about 20 minutes per day with only 20-40 pounds of pressure to be able to chew. During sleep bruxism, however, the upper and lower teeth are in contact in that 40 minutes per hour, and with a force of about 250 pounds on the first molar.

Sleep bruxism is not a disease, but it is the sleep disorder in third position after sleep talking and snoring. This condition is more common in children, who often grow, and causes behind the adults are very different from those of younger age.

In 1960, Dr. Gilles Lavigne, a professor of dentistry and medicine at the University of Montreal, and president of the Canadian Sleep Society said that bruxism was considered the body’s response to “Malocclusion” – - a problem that arises when the upper and lower teeth do not go together. The lack of clinical evidence, the theory has not been accepted in medical and dental community.

Later, the stress was cited as the cause of the supporters of sleep this theory does not explain why everyone with sleep bruxism was stressed and not everyone with stress ground their teeth . Some recent studies also reveal the connection of sleep bruxism to neurochemicals like dopamine, but its importance is still questioned. Dr. Lavigne recent studies have identified a pattern of activation in the autonomic nervous system that correlates strongly with sleep bruxism. He noted that sleep bruxism is not an indicator of neurological disease. No matter what science finally discovers the cause of sleep bruxism, the current medical literature point to stress, smoking, alcohol, caffeine as the main “triggers” the disease.

Relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or even acupuncture can help promote overall health and well-being. Physicians, however, that these alternative methods of healing will not cure or alleviate sleep bruxism.

For treatment, the anti-anxiety medication and other pharmacological treatments may be prescribed by doctors to help put an end to bruxism. Patients should be aware however that these drugs are potentially addictive. “It works too well,” says Dr. Michael Gelb, a clinical professor at the University of New York College of Dentistry. The drug “works well” also implies the potential for substance abuse if the patient is left to use the drug without medical supervision.

In the meantime, dentists suggest that patients can use mouthguards. The mouthguard is a small plastic device that covers part or all teeth to protect them against damage, but does not really stop the grinding or shaking. The temporary relief can be very expensive, the device is designed to adapt to the user. But a more affordable version can be purchased in pharmacies over the counter, which are usually better than nothing.

Charles McNeill, director of the Center for Orofacial Pain at the University of California, San Francisco agrees that mouth guards can protect teeth, but should be for temporary use as it may be more likely to induce a chewing response and increase bruxism. They can also cause irreversible damage to the bite, or arrangement of teeth. Custom mouth guards made by a dentist last longer, more responsive and are generally designed to distribute the force of grinding to reduce jaw pain.

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