Teeth Grinding
Teeth Grinding
What Is Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding is the act of gnashing, clenching, or grating your teeth together. When teeth grinding occurs on an occasional basis, it is usually harmless, but regular grinding can lead to headaches, facial pain, damaged teeth, gum sensitivity, earache, or pain in the jaw joint. The medical term for this condition is bruxism, and there are various teeth grinding treatments available which can combat it.
What Causes Teeth Grinding?
Those who grind their teeth are normally doing so unconsciously, as they are unaware that they are clenching their teeth. In these cases, bruxism is usually caused by anxiety, as patients will grind their teeth when they are under stress. Alternatively, teeth grinding can become a habit that people perform when they are concentrating, such as when they are working or studying. Finally, some people grind their teeth in their sleep, which is known as sleep bruxism.
Treatments We Offer
Behavioural Strategies
The first way in which you can try to combat bruxism is through adopting certain behavioural strategies. If you suspect that anxiety is prompting you to grind your teeth, consider using relaxation therapy to control your stress. Try yoga, mindfulness, or participate in some gentle exercise. In addition, avoiding stimulating substances, such as coffee, caffeinated tea, or alcohol can help to reduce teeth grinding. Alternatively, a dentist can provide you with a custom-made mouthguard. This inserts a plastic or rubber barrier between your teeth, which prevents you from grinding them together.
Botulinum Toxin (Botox)
You are probably familiar with Botox as a cosmetic treatment for the removal of wrinkles and fine lines. This is when botulinum toxin is inserted into the face to prevent the muscles from contracting, which, in turn, prevents the skin from creasing in such a way that creates wrinkles. However, botulinum toxin’s muscle-relaxing properties can also be used to treat various non-cosmetic conditions, from chronic migraine to teeth grinding. When Botox is used to treat bruxism, a small amount of botulinum toxin is injected into the masseter muscle, which is responsible for chewing. After 10 to 14 days have passed, the botox will begin to relax your jaw. This will prevent you from clenching your jaw involuntarily. Voluntary movements (such as talking, chewing, or facial expressions) will not be affected. This will also alleviate the tension headaches and pains that accompany teeth grinding. These results will last for approximately 3-6 months, after which time you will have to repeat the procedure to maintain the effects of the treatment.
Medication
Some medicines can help to relieve teeth grinding symptoms or treat them forever. A doctor can prescribe muscle relaxants, which are taken before bed to relax the jaw muscles and prevent sleep bruxism. Alternatively, if your teeth grinding is related to anxiety, a doctor may recommend the short-term use of anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants to treat the stress that is triggering the bruxism. Finally, painkillers such as ibuprofen can be used to relieve the unpleasant symptoms that are caused by teeth grinding, such as headaches or jaw pain. Please note, however, that painkillers will only relieve the symptoms of bruxism and will not prevent teeth grinding, and so they will not be able to protect your teeth from damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Symptoms Of Teeth Grinding?
What Are the Risk Factors for Bruxism?
How Do You Stop Teeth Grinding?
The first way in which you should try to tackle teeth grinding is by changing potentially harmful lifestyle habits. Try to reduce the amount of alcohol and coffee that you drink, and take part in activities that could reduce anxiety, such as yoga or mindfulness. If this is not effective, a Botox treatment can be used to treat teeth grinding.
Does Bruxism Go Away?
It is very unlikely that teeth grinding will stop on its own. It is best to adopt behavioral strategies to combat it, or to get a mouthguard fitted, to prevent further damage to your teeth. If these strategies do not work, it is worth considering medical treatment.
How Can Botox Help With Teeth Grinding?
Botox helps prevent bruxism by relaxing the jaw muscles, which stops you from clenching your teeth involuntarily. Importantly, the procedure does not stop you from moving your jaw voluntarily, and so you will be able to eat, speak and make facial expressions as normal.
Is The Procedure Painful?
As with any form of injection, Botox injections can be slightly uncomfortable, but they are not usually painful.
How Long Does The Procedure Take?
The procedure takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to administer.
When Will I Begin To See Results?
It typically takes between 10 to 14 days for the Botox treatment to work. However, if you are new to this treatment, it can take between 2-4 weeks.