Bruxism Treatment

Bruxism (teeth grinding) and clenching (teeth clenching) are habits that typically manifest with strong jaw movements occurring during sleep, causing damage to the teeth and muscles. In normal individuals, the teeth in the upper and lower jaws should not come into contact with each other except during chewing and swallowing functions.

The underlying causes of bruxism (teeth grinding) habit are primarily stress and certain gum problems. Unfortunately, stress is a common issue in our modern age and can be challenging to manage.

As a result of the teeth grinding habit, negative conditions may occur in the teeth and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). These may include tooth wear, sensitivity, cracks, and sometimes, in advanced cases, fractures.

A common symptom is the development of white lines on the inner surface of the cheeks and visible tooth marks around the tongue.

In clenching (teeth clenching) issues, flattening occurs due to wear on the sharp parts of the teeth. This results in a decrease in the distance between the tip of the nose and the chin, essentially reducing the vertical dimension.

In advanced cases of teeth clenching problems, the reduction in vertical dimension causes the corners of the lips to droop downward, resulting in an aged appearance. Additionally, there may be pain in the head, neck, and facial muscles.

If you wake up with pain in the cheek area, temple area, neck, or even back, you may be grinding your teeth.

While the teeth grinding habit primarily manifests during sleep, it has been observed that the same functional disorder can occur during the day in advanced cases.

The goal of bruxism and clenching treatments is to prevent permanent damage to the teeth and TMJ and to alleviate pain.

Individualized night guards, customized to provide firm and full contact with the opposing teeth, should be used for treatment. These appliances aim to prevent teeth from coming into contact with each other during sleep and to prevent tooth wear.

Night guards are typically worn by placing them between the upper and lower teeth.

However, night guards alone may not always be sufficient. Therefore, depending on the presentation of the condition, additional treatments may be necessary. These treatments may include stress therapy, measures to facilitate restful sleep, muscle relaxant medication, replacement of faulty dental fillings and restorations, and prosthetic applications to replace missing teeth.

In addition to night guards, one of the most commonly used methods in modern teeth grinding treatments is botulinum toxin injections.

Teeth clenching observed in children is normal and necessary for certain growth-related changes. However, it is essential to consult your doctor for these negative habits that occur after the primary teeth have fully erupted.

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