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Treating Bruxism: What To Do About The Signs Of Bruxism

Bruxism is a condition that affects millions of men, women and children around the world and which can range from being quite mild to severe. A person may notice they have this problem overnight while they are sleeping when they wake up in the morning and have a sore jaw or they could even be clenching their teeth without noticing during the day. Bruxism is a condition that involves an involuntary clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth which can happen any time but usually occurs during sleep. The condition is not considered as being extremely dangerous but it can cause pain and discomfort.

There are all sorts of different problems that could be caused by bruxism. That includes chipped or missing teeth and even an infection of the teeth and gums. Watching for the signs of bruxism is important especially if you have been experiencing a sore jaw and think something may be wrong. Enlarged jaw muscles, chewed tissue on the inside of the cheek, chronic facial pain and indentations on the tongue are all common symptoms caused by bruxism.

People who sleep alone often go long periods of time without even realizing that there is a problem at all. Most people with a partner or who otherwise sleep in a bed with someone else will usually wake the other person up or have them notice their constant teeth grinding. People who are deep sleepers may not notice they are grinding down on their teeth unless someone else notices and tells them. For those who find their symptoms are disrupting their life and causing them problems, it is important to get in to the doctor.

The first thing most doctors suggest to patients dealing with this sort of a problem is stress management. They may advise you to begin speaking with a therapist or social worker and to start up relaxation exercises like yoga and meditation. There may also be dental approaches involved. Especially in cases of children if their teeth are getting ruined as a result of their bruxism, doctors will often suggest they wear a mouth guard to prevent further damage to the teeth.

Mouth guards are often customized to fit the mouth and will help protect the teeth while you are sleeping. Medication is rarely prescribed but does work in severe cases, and that includes muscle relaxants and sometimes anti anxiety medications to help the person relax. A muscle relaxant or even anti anxiety medication may be used to help the person feel calmer and settle off to sleep easier. This will prevent their bruxism from acting up through the night.