Bruxism (Tooth Grinding)

Most people have had some kind of tooth grinding, also called bruxism, at some point in their lives. What may seem like a harmless activity can actually lead to serious dental problems, jaw pain and physical discomfort if the tooth grinding is done frequently. At River Bluff Dental we often see signs of tooth grinding in our patients and can recommend different options to curtail the behavior.

Tooth Grinding Symptoms

It is possible to unconsciously grind your teeth and not realize that some of your discomfort is stemming from this habit. Symptoms of tooth grinding can include:

  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Visible wear of the teeth
  • Damage to the teeth, such as chips or cracks
  • Headache
  • Facial pain
  • Jaw pain
  • Tight or swollen jaw muscles
  • Ear pain
  • Shoulder or neck pain
  • Marks on the tongue or cheek insides

Tooth grinding often occurs while the individual is sleeping. Other people in the household may notice that you are making loud grinding, clenching or gnashing noises as you sleep. This is also an indication of nighttime bruxism.

Serious Implications of Tooth Grinding

Occasional tooth grinding typically does not lead to serious problems. However, if a person is a chronic tooth grinder, he or she may develop temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ/TMD. The stress placed on the temporomandibular joint in tooth grinding can cause the jaw joint to become misaligned, leading to seemingly unrelated symptoms of headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders or ringing in their ears.

Dr. Walter Palmer is a trained and experienced neuromuscular dentist who can identify the TMJ disorder and begin a treatment plan to alleviate the symptoms associated with this painful condition.

Tooth Grinding Treatment

There are many different treatment options for bruxism, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition. Some tooth grinding will go away with lifestyle treatments such as:

  • Learning stress management
  • Practicing relaxation techniques
  • Wearing a mouth guard at night
  • Wearing a hard splint at night

In severe bruxism cases, neuromuscular dentistry techniques can help identify your proper jaw alignment and work to keep your jaw in its proper location. This procedure can be highly effective when the patient has tried other techniques without success.

Tooth Grinding Causes

There is no one cause for bruxism. Some people grind their teeth because of:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Anger
  • Misalignment of the upper and lower teeth
  • Sleep cycle changes
  • Physical disorders

Many children grind their teeth when they are teething or have an earache. This is also a common response to the changes their teeth and jaws make in the development stages. These actions usually subside as they grow older.

If you suspect that you are a tooth grinder and are concerned about your dental and overall health, please contact neuromuscular dentist Dr. Walter Palmer at River Bluff Dental in Minneapolis, Minnesota today to request an initial bruxism consultation.

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