Bruxism

Bruxism is a condition that people grind or clench their teeth.   People who grind or clench their teeth during the day and during their sleep regularly are likely to have dental problems, headaches, facial or jaw pain, and temporomandibular joint disorder.   Awake bruxism is teeth grinding or clenching during the day. Sleep bruxism is teeth grinding or clenching during sleep.  People who have sleep bruxism may have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and sleep apnea.

The exact cause of bruxism is unclear.  These are possible causes of bruxism:

·       Stress & anxiety

·       Abnormal bite, malocclusion (teeth do not meet properly when the jaw closes)

·       Missing or crooked teeth

·       Sleep disorders: snoring, sleep apnea

Signs & symptoms of bruxism may include:

·       Teeth grinding or clenching may be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner

·       Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose

·       Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth

·       Increased tooth pain or sensitivity

·       Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won’t open or close completely

·       Jaw, neck or face pain or soreness

·       Pain that feels like an earache

·       Dull headache starting in the temples

·       Sleep disruption

·       Wake up in the morning with jaw pain

Dangers of bruxism

·       Wear down tooth enamel, damage to dental fillings and crowns

·       Tension-type headaches

·       Facial or jaw pain

·       Temporomandibular joint disorder

Factors increase risk of bruxism

·       A study in the November 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association suggests that teeth grinding is also associated with alcohol and tobacco use.  People who drink alcohol and use tobacco are twice likely to grind their teeth.

·       Stress, anxiety, anger,  and frustration

·       Personality type:  person who is aggressive, competitive or hyperactive can increase the risk of bruxism

·       Smoking tobacco, drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol, or use of recreational drugs may increase the risk of bruxism.

·       Bruxism can be associated with some mental health and medical conditions: Parkinson’s disease, dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), epilepsy, sleep apnea and attention deficit disorder.

Treatment for bruxism

·       Recommend a sleep study to rule out an airway issue

·       Mouth guard fitted by the dentist.  Mouth guard is worn to protect the teeth

·       Dietary changes

·       life style changes

Prevention

·       Stress and anxiety management may help reduce or prevent bruxism

·       Good sleep hygiene: cool dark, quiet room to sleep in

·       Avoid foods and drinks that contain high concentration of caffeine or alcohol

Bruxism can create serious problems for oral health. If you notice that you grind or clench your teeth during the day or you wake up in the morning with jaw pain, call for a consultation with Dr. Anna Lee.  She can help you, diagnose the problem and provide treatment options.  Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  Call our office at 626-335-5114 for a dental checkup or visit us at www.annaleedds.com.

Dental Tips for Travelers

  

Vacation Time!  Whether you are on a vacation for a few days or months away out of the country; here are some dental tips for travelers to maintain good oral care:

Make Time for a dental checkup before travel

·       Thorough oral exam to take care any dental problems before the travel

·       Your dentist should check fillings, crowns or dentures in your mouth.  Air traps in the teeth can expand at extreme altitudes; it can cause pain, inflammation and even loose fillings, crowns or dentures

In case of emergency/emergency overseas

·       Make sure to have the dentist’s contact information handy or keep a business card in the wallet

·       If you are out of the country, get a dental referral/recommendation from the local consulate or U.S. embassy

Pack Dental supplies (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss)

·       Ventilate toothbrush-Store the toothbrush after use in a sealable plastic bag and keep it clean and out of contact with other things. As soon as you reach the destination, take the toothbrush out for air dry.

·       Toothpaste and floss-keep these supplies in the glove compartment, purses, containers, plastic bags, carry-on

·       Bring extra, portable/disposable supplies-go small, the more compact the oral hygiene items, the more likely you are to keep them handy

Eat healthy snacks

·       Cut up fruits & vegetables, baby carrots, celery sticks, sliced apples, string cheese, whole grain crackers, trail mix

·       Chew sugarless gum for 20 minutes after a meal can help prevent cavities.  It gets saliva flowing and washes away cavity-causing bacteria

·       Drink water

Brush with bottled water

·       If you are in a country that the water supply may be compromised, use bottled water to brush your teeth.  It reduces the risk of getting sick

·       Clean the toothbrush with bottled water.  It reduces the risk of getting sick

Stick to your routine

·       Brush your teeth 2x/day and floss daily

·       End of day with a thorough brushing and flossing. 

Dr. Anna Lee is a general & cosmetic dentist in Glendora, CA.  She has been taking care of adults and children’s dentistry for over 25 years.  Call our dental office for a thorough dental examination before leaving for your vacation.  If you and your family have any questions about dental care, please contact Dr. Anna Lee at 626-335-5114 or visit us at www.annaleedds.com.   

Treatment of Bruxism

There are three goals of treatment for bruxism

1. Reduce pain caused by bruxism
-Apply ice or moist heat to sore jaw muscles
-Massage and relax the jaw muscles throughout the day
-Avoid eating hard foods
-Go on soft food diet

2. Prevent and restore permanent teeth damages caused by bruxism
-Correct malocclusion (tooth alignment) can reduce bruxism
-Dental restorations (crowns) to restore the biting surfaces of teeth damaged by bruxism
-Occlusal guard or bite split-A custom made mouth guard or splint can be fabricated for upper or lower teeth. Wearing a mouth guard may relieve muscle tension, decrease painful symptoms, rest the joint and minimize tooth wear.

3. Reduce stress caused by bruxism
-Professional counseling
-Psychotherapy
-Biofeedback exercises or strategies to help you relax
-Prescription of muscle relaxant

Visit Anna Lee, D.D.S. today for an appointment

Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism

Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include: 

* Loud grinding sound at night wakes up sleep partner

*Teeth that are worn down, flattened, fractured, or chipped

*worn tooth enamel, dentin exposure

*Increased tooth sensitivity to temperature (hot & cold)

*Jaw pain or tightness in the jaw muscles

*Earache 

*Headache

*Chronic facial pain

Don't live with the pain, call our office today in order to get treatment. 

Causes of Bruxism

Bruxism can have a variety of causes. Physicians and dentists think that each patient may have a different cause that triggers bruxism. These are some of the possible causes:

i. Anxiety, stress or tension

ii. Suppressed anger or frustration

iii. Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type

iv. Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion)

v. Sleep prolems

                                                                    vi. Side effects of medications (antidepressants) 

Anna Lee, D.D.S.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a condition that people clench their teeth during the day time or grind their teeth at night. 

Clenching occurs when the upper and lower teeth are held tightly together. Grinding occurs when upper and lower teeth slide back and forth over each other. 

Many people clench and grind their teeth from time to time and do not have any problems. 

Occasionally bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding) does not usually cause harm, but when the condition occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise.