Bruxism: Understanding Tooth Grinding and How to Treat It

Do you wake up with a sore jaw? Do your teeth hurt? You might have bruxism. This is when you grind or clench your teeth.

What Is Bruxism?

Bruxism means you grind your teeth when you don’t need to chew food. Many people do this and don’t know it!

There are two types of bruxism:

1. Sleep bruxism: You grind teeth while you sleep
2. Awake bruxism: You clench teeth during the day

Lots of people have this problem. About 8 to 31 out of 100 grown-ups grind their teeth. Kids can have it too!

How To Know If You Have Bruxism

Your body will tell you if you grind your teeth. Look for these signs:

• Pain in your jaw when you wake up
• Headaches, mostly in the morning
• Sore teeth that feel sad
• Worn down teeth that look flat
• Tired face muscles
• Your sleep mate hears grinding sounds at night
• Chipped teeth or small cracks
• Tooth marks on your tongue

If you have three or more of these signs, you might have bruxism!

Why Do People Grind Their Teeth?

Many things can make you grind your teeth:

Mind and Feelings

• Stress – when you worry a lot
• Anxiety – when you feel scared
• Being very active all the time

Body Problems

• Teeth that don’t fit right (called malocclusion)
• TMJ problems – this is your jaw joint
• Sleep apnea – when you stop breathing a bit at night

Life Choices

• Too much coffee or tea
• Alcohol drinks
• Some pills the doctor gives you

25-50% of people who grind teeth also have sleep apnea. This is when you stop breathing for short times at night.

How Doctors Find Out You Have Bruxism

The dentist can see if you grind your teeth. They will:

1. Look at your teeth for flat spots
2. Check your jaw for sore spots
3. Ask if you have headaches
4. Maybe do a sleep test if they think you need one

A sleep doctor might use a polysomnography test. This is a special sleep test that shows if you grind your teeth at night.

How to Fix Bruxism

Good news! There are many ways to help stop grinding your teeth:

Things the Dentist Can Do

Custom Mouth Guards

These are plastic shields that fit your teeth. They keep your teeth safe when you grind. Dentists call them occlusal splints.

These guards can cut down grinding force by 50-70%!

You can get different types:

• Hard night guards – very strong
• Soft night guards – more comfy
• Custom-made night guards – fit your teeth just right

Botox Shots

For very bad cases, the dentist might use Botox. This makes your jaw muscles less strong so you can’t grind as hard.

Botox can cut grinding by 90% for 6-12 weeks. Then you need more shots.

Fix Teeth Problems

If your teeth don’t fit right, the dentist might:

• Fix your bite
• Put on braces
• Fix broken teeth

Treat Other Health Issues

If you have sleep apnea, you might need a CPAP machine. This helps you breathe at night and can stop grinding too!

Things You Can Do at Home

Less Stress

• Do yoga or deep breathing
• Talk to a helper about your stress
• Try CBT – this is a type of talk help that can cut awake bruxism by 30-60%

Jaw Work

• Stretch your jaw muscles
• Put a warm cloth on your jaw
• Massage your face

Don’t Use These

• Coffee or tea after lunch time
• Wine or beer near bed time
• Chewing gum all day long

How to Stop Bruxism for Good

To keep your teeth safe for a long time:

1. Use your night guard every night
2. Sleep well – dark room, same bed time
3. Talk about stress with friends or helpers
4. See your dentist for check-ups
5. Drink water not coffee or wine before bed

When to Call the Dentist

Call your dentist right away if:

• Your teeth hurt a lot
• Your jaw gets stuck or won’t open
• Your teeth feel loose
• You can’t sleep from the pain

Questions People Ask

The Big Picture

Bruxism is when you grind your teeth too much. It can hurt your teeth and jaw. About 8-31 out of 100 grown-ups have this.

The good news? You can fix it! Use a night guard, find ways to relax, and see your dentist for help.

Don’t wait until your teeth hurt a lot. Talk to a dentist today if you think you grind your teeth!