Dental Nightguard – Your Bruxism Guide Dental Nightguard – learn how to treat bruxism!

Different Methods of Treatment for Bruxism

Bruxism is a condition which may cause people to grind and clench their teeth during their sleep. In mild cases, most people will not require any treatment. However, treatment may be necessary to prevent further damage in extreme cases. Some of the symptoms from bruxism are headaches, depression, and jaw pain. Currently, no one knows what causes bruxism but stress can be a factor. Mouth guards, Botox, and biofeedback devices are some of the forms of treatment for bruxism that are currently being used by physicians.

One of the different forms of treatment for bruxism is a mouth guard. It should be placed in the mouth every night to prevent the person from grinding their upper and lower teeth. A mouth guard can be purchased at local drugstore or can be custom made by a dentist. Custom made mouth guards can cost up to $500. While mouth guards do not cure bruxism, they are good for preventing more damage.

Another one of the common treatments used for bruxism is Botox. When Botox is injected in the jaw muscles, it weakens these muscles in order to prevent the person from grinding their teeth. An injection must be given in both of the jaw muscles in order to be effective. The treatment may last up to three months before it needs to be repeated by a physician. These treatment are expensive but may be covered under your health insurance.

Biofeedback devices are another method that is used to treat bruxism. The first biofeedback device developed was a headband powered by batteries that had an alarm that went off when the person clenched their jaw while sleeping. Over the years, different biofeedback devices have been developed to prevent a sleeping person from clenching their teeth. The latest version forces people to breathe through their mouth not nose when they start to clench their teeth at night. Many people have had some success with the use of this treatment.

If any one of these treatments is used correctly, it should reduce some of the pain and symptoms that can be caused by bruxism. It is recommended that the person try to determine the cause of the bruxism as well. If the cause is stress related, then relaxation and meditation techniques may be useful to practice each night before bedtime. Surgery may be needed if a person continues to have severe symptoms from bruxism.