When a person has bruxism, teeth and gums are the part of their body that suffer the most. What happens to a person’s overall oral health if bruxism goes untreated? This article will shed some light on the subject as well as talk about treatment options for the condition. If you have bruxism or know someone who has it, click on www.cpdental.com.au/teeth-grinding-south-brisbane for more information about this condition.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is a medical condition that makes a person grind their teeth when they sleep. It is classified as a sleep-related disorder. This teeth grinding can be harmful to many parts of the oral cavity. People who do teeth grinding can damage their teeth, gums, and jawbone in the long run, if the condition goes untreated.
Diagnosing teeth grinding
It is difficult to self-diagnose teeth grinding bruxism because this mostly happens at night when people are sleeping. However, most of the time, people can have a sense that they had been teeth grinding because they would mostly wake up with a pain in their teeth and jaws.
Symptoms of bruxism
There are many symptoms of bruxism to look out for. Teeth grinding bruxism is a condition that can be dealt with, but it has to be diagnosed first. Noticing the symptoms and telling a doctor about them is the first step toward diagnosis and cure for teeth grinding bruxism.
Loud teeth grinding
If you are woken up because of loud teeth grinding, or if you have a partner who is stirred awake because of the grinding bruxism noise, you may have the condition.
Flat teeth
Teeth are supposed to have rounded edges. Most of the time, teeth that are flat are caused by grinding bruxism pressure that is placed on them because of the disorder.
Tooth pain and sensitivity
Pain in the teeth can be caused by a bacterial infection that can gain access to the inner workings of the tooth because of the damage caused by the grinding bruxism pressure.
Not being able to sleep well
One sign that a person is teeth grinding is if they cannot sleep well. They might be awoken in the middle of the night because of the sound of the grinding bruxism or because of the discomfort they feel because their teeth have become sensitive.
Lack of sleep can also cause stress in a person, especially if the disruption of sleep happens regularly. Stress can also be a cause of tooth grinding.
Seeing a doctor about teeth grinding bruxism
If you have had any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is a good idea to see a dentist. Especially if you are experiencing tooth pain because of teeth grinding, it may mean that the inner and more sensitive parts of the tooth have become exposed, causing the pain.
If this is prolonged and goes untreated, the person can suffer from more serious dental issues in the long run. Broken or damaged teeth are prone to contract infection because bacteria can enter the tooth through the cracks and other damaged areas. This is why a person who suffers from any of the symptoms mentioned has to bring it up with their dentist.
Treatment options for teeth grinding
Luckily for people who have the condition of teeth grinding bruxism, there are several treatments available to choose from. The dentist will usually have to evaluate the gravity of the teeth grinding before making any recommendations about which treatment option would work best for the patient.
Dental intervention
There are many types of dental approaches that a dentist can suggest to help a person cope with their bruxism. A dentist may recommend a mouthguard to prevent the effects of grinding bruxism,
Stress management
In some cases, bruxism can be caused by stress. Taking up stress management will help avoid future episodes of teeth grinding at night. Making sure that your mind is at ease before you go to bed. Also, avoiding alcohol before sleeping will help you avoid teeth grinding because of stress.
Medication
There are also some types of medication available such as muscle relaxants and Botox injections that will help the person relax. Also, anti-stress drugs can be considered in the treatment of bruxism. Although more research is currently being conducted for a drug to fight bruxism, ask your doctor if you are interested in taking any of these medications.
Final thoughts
Bruxism and teeth grinding can be daunting. However, teeth grinding is treatable. If you think you have this condition, or if your partner has said they notice that you grind your teeth at night, it is a good idea to visit your dentist.
If you have a child that does teeth grinding, you should tell your dentist about it during your child’s next dental appointment. Dentists will be able to diagnose teeth grinding bruxism and tell you the right treatment method for your child.