In the rush of everyday life when we get home what we want most is to relax and sleep.But have you ever stopped to think what happens to your body when we are sleeping?

Difficult to know, isn't it? Therefore, many people are unaware that they suffer from bruxism.

Everyone knows how important it is to get a good night's sleep. Well-slept nights bring many benefits and leave people well-disposed and with a better quality of life.

Some disorders can disrupt sleep, such as bruxism . It is a disease whose characteristic is an imbalance in the muscles of mastication.

What is Bruxism During Sleep?

Have you ever heard from a family member that when you fall asleep you clench your teeth hard to the point of emitting a slight sound effect? There is a possibility of something called “Bruxism During Sleep” or simply BS.

Although the grinding of nocturnal teeth is an important sign, there are other indications such as: dental wear, local pain, muscle hypertrophy, headache, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, poor quality sleep and daytime sleepiness.

Bruxism during sleep affects 3% to 20% of the general population, both in men and women, and is more common in young people.

Often the patient does not know that he is suffering from this problem, so it is normal for the discovery to happen when someone warns about the noises emitted during the night.

To avoid the late knowledge of the problem, it is best to visit the Dental Surgeon frequently, because this way the professional will be able to check if there is any wear on the teeth and already refer for treatment.

Night bruxism?

The nocturnal bruxism is one that occurs while sleeping , while sleeping, and as such the person does not realize that you are clenching or grinding your teeth because it makes an unintentionally.

As such, this sleep bruxism is only noticeable or identified by someone who is relatively close to the bruxist.

Daytime bruxism?

The day Bruxism , also called bruxism, is that occurring during the day, differing from the night to the extent that occurs while a person is awake, being characterized by a voluntary or semi-voluntary activity.

In these cases, movements are usually associated with a habit or "tic".

Childhood bruxism is it the same?

In general, the paintings for adults and children are very similar. Check out some information that may indicate how to deal with your children's situation:

Children also experience bruxism and, although it can happen at any age, we see more cases up to 6 years of age. Logically, because it is the period when the teeth are still being born and adjusting in the child's mouth.

The causes can come, as with adults, from stress and anxiety. However, it also occurs due to malocclusion, misaligned bite or allergic and/or respiratory diseases.

Symptoms of bruxism in children are similar:

• jaw, neck and ear pain
• ringing in the ear
• sleep disruptions
• difficulty in chewing
• bleeding gums

And the treatment? It's the same? It may be, there is a bite plate to reduce the consequences of childhood bruxism and therapy is recommended. However, another alternative presented is orthodontic treatment.

Who can be affected by bruxism?

Bruxism affects a percentage around 70% of the adult population. In the case of children under 11 years of age, teeth grinding affects between 14% and 20%, although the progression is upward.

There are different degrees according to the intensity of the disorder, from grade I, which is usually occasional and reversible, to grade III, which is constant and irreversible, and whose injuries can be permanent, so exhaustive care is required by the professional of dentistry.

How do i know if i have bruxism?

Bruxism is a complicated problem to identify on your own. You may even suspect that you suffer from the disease, but only a dental surgeon will be sure of what is going on.

In the same way, treatment will only be designated when the causes of the problem are detected. Bruxism can happen during the night, while you sleep or even during the day.

Your trusted dentist will examine your teeth, wear them out and understand what is going on.

Once your trusted dentist determines that you have bruxism, you will need to understand the potential of the problem and what might happen next, in addition to the probable cause.

Bruxism can cause the loss of tooth enamel, the destruction of gum tissue, damage the surrounding bone and even cause your teeth to become loose. It is quite a problem.

Another consequence of the problem is the creation of flaws in the jaw joint, such as temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).

Keep an eye on your sleep, how you wake up, if you experience symptoms such as pain in your teeth, jaw or head and if people around you say you make a grinding sound during the day. This will help you to guide the dentist during consultations.

What are the causes of bruxism?

There are two paths we can take to determine the causes of bruxism.

The first is physical, where there are bone, gum or joint problems. The second is mental, that is, linked to psychological factors.

With that in mind, we can add that stress, anxiety and sleepless nights are among the biggest triggers for bruxism.

In addition, nutrition and poor diet can also be related to this disorder.

What are the symptoms of Bruxism?

The symptoms of bruxism can also be confusing. A high percentage of patients visit other specialists beforehand (especially neurologists and ENT specialists) as they do not adequately identify the source of their pain. And it is that bruxism can manifest itself in numerous ways:

• Headaches
• Wear of the dental arches (which will only be identified by a specialist)
• Humor changes
• Change in bite
• Muscle tension in the face, neck and back
• Earache
• Sensitivity of the teeth to sweet foods, cold and heat

What is the treatment for bruxism?

To effectively address the problem of bruxism, it is essential to carry out a comprehensive diagnosis through clinical examination, radiological studies and, in recent times, digital dentistry.

Together with the patient's medical history, these procedures allow the specialist to obtain detailed information about their problem before starting the most appropriate therapy for their treatment.

Discharge splint or occlusal plate: it is not a definitive solution to the problem, but it is an adjunctive treatment that will prevent the patient from grinding the teeth. Bruxism has a multifactorial etiology, so many aspects must be taken into account when setting a treatment.

The discharge splint is a helpful tool that will help the jaw to relax and prevent wear on the teeth as a result of friction, but it will not eliminate the problem of bruxism.

Orthodontics: when teeth grinding is treated with orthodontics, not only are the consequences of the problem reduced, but a solution is provided. The use of these dental appliances allows to reposition the teeth in uneven bites and correct situations of malocclusion that may be favoring the generation of mandibular tension.

In this sense, invisible orthodontics is presented as a very attractive solution for those who suffer from bruxism in adulthood, solving the problem without compromising the aesthetics of the mouth during treatment.

Surgery: Surgical interventions are only used in the most serious cases in which no other treatment can mitigate the discomfort caused by bruxism.

If the problem has genetic causes related to the anatomy of the mouth or if the patient suffers from temporomandibular syndrome , it may be necessary to resort to maxillofacial surgery.

How to prevent bruxism?

Without treatment, bruxism itself is not preventable in cases where it occurs during sleep (nocturnal bruxism), as it is an involuntary act. However, measures can be taken to avoid its consequences, as mentioned above.

In the cases in which bruxism occurs when the person is awake or conscious, there may be care to be taken, in addition to medication, to avoid clenching or grinding the teeth, namely trying to keep the teeth unattached, leaving only lips in contact. In this sense, one must avoid stress, tobacco, drugs and alcoholic beverages, maintain an adequate diet and practice physical exercise, among others.

You should also consult the Dentist regularly, as he may identify situations of bruxism, based in particular on the observation of tooth wear and an evaluation of the temporomandibular joint, even if superficial.

There is not really a specialist in bruxism, but the health professionals to whom we must turn to try to solve this problem are Neurologists and Dentists, and within the latter, specialists in occlusion may be more suitable to reduce the consequences already installed.

What happens after Invisalign treatment if I am a bruxist?

At the end of the treatment, at MINIM we always recommend VIVERA retentions, these retentions manufactured by the same Invisalign manufacturer are very resistant and, in addition, as we give three identical sets, they allow our patients to be protected for many years against tooth movements and for bruxism.

Does invisible orthodontics with Invisalign work for bruxism?

Stretched woman with pain in her teeth because she is a bruxist. But since she wears invisalign aligners at night she has no problems.

As we have commented while the treatment with invisible aligners lasts, the squeezers or bruixistas are covered since the aligners prevent the teeth from rubbing and that protects them from future wear and pain.

In addition, once the treatment is finished, as transparent retentions must be worn at night, the patient is protected against bruxism for a long time by the use of retainers and by having improved the bite.

Can bruxism be cured?

Bruxism is a disease that can and should be subjected to treatment in order to avoid several serious problems, which are becoming more and more accentuated.

Often, this treatment involves only taking measures to avoid further consequences for the bruxist, and other times it even requires proper medication in the context of neurology.

Where to look for help?

Two specialties that you need to prioritize when you suspect a case of bruxism are: dentistry and psychology.

First, the dentist will help to reduce the symptoms, take care of the damage done to your teeth and check that there is no physical problem causing your bruxism.

Then, a psychologist will help you find the reasons for your stress and anxiety that trigger bruxism.

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