Better Health & Living
Bruxism
Information on Bruxism
Natural Treatment for Bruxism
Mar 14th
If you suspect that you may be suffering from Bruxism you should consult your dentist. The dentist would most likely 
recommend a mouth guard to prevent the grinding of teeth.
There are a number of ways to treat Bruxism. The treatment is targeted at pain relief, prevent ion of permanent damage to teeth and changing the habit of teeth clenching as much as possible. Some of the natural forms of treatment of bruxism are as follows:
Chewing Fruits and Vegetables
Before going to bed at night, you can try chewing on fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots or broccoli. Chewing provides an exercise to the jaws, gums and the facial muscles. And it would have a calming effect on your oral muscles before you sleep. A calm mouth means reduced instances of teeth grinding throughout the night.
Use a warm washcloth
Another way of relaxing the oral muscles and the jaw is to put a washcloth dipped in lukewarm water around your face. Make sure that the washcloth runs from one side of your face to the other. Doing this on a daily basis before going to bed would prevent your jaws from clenching and reduce the instances of teeth grinding.
Relax before going to bed
Teeth grinding is usually triggered by stress. Indulge in activities that relax you before going to bed. You can start by reading a book or even watching television or having a hot shower if it has a relaxing effect on you. Simple things like a warm massage can have calming effects on you that may in turn reduce the episodes of teeth grinding in sleep.
Replace Caffeine and Alcohol with Herbal Teas
Drinking coffee before going to bed or alcohol consumption increases the instances of sleep arousal and sleep disturbances. You may experience difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, thereby aggravating teeth grinding during sleep. If you really want to have a drink before going to bed then you can replace tea and coffee with herbal teas or even warm milk as they are free of caffeine and have a sedative and calming effect. Alcohol consumption, smoking and caffeine intake must be avoided before going to bed as it will only worsen the symptoms of bruxism.
Practice Meditation and Deep Breathing Exercises
Research has indicated that practicing meditation and deep breathing exercises have extremely beneficial effects in relieving stress. But this has to be done on a regular basis and especially at night before falling asleep. These techniques are known to be of a great help in reducing the instances and severity of sleeping disorders which are one of the major trigger factors for teeth grinding. A deep and refreshing sleep goes a long way in overcoming the habit of teeth grinding.
Herbal Remedies
Some herbal Remedies are also helpful in treating the symptoms of bruxism since they can relieve tension and help to soothe the psychological stress which in turn leads to gnashing of teeth and clenching of jaws in sleep. These include Hypericum perforatum, Passiflora incarnata, Melissa officinalis and Lavender.
Recommended Product – Triple Complex Nerve Tonic Tissue Salts To Help You Relax And get Better Night Sleep.
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Symptoms of Bruxism
Mar 14th
Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws. Bruxism often occurs during deep sleep or while under stress. Bruxism commonly occurs in children but most of them outgrow this condition into adolescence.
Symptoms of Bruxism may vary in individuals. Some of the common symptoms are as follows:
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding or clenching of the jaws occurs involuntary and especially during sleep. It is the most common symptom of bruxism. The most severe and extensive grinding and clenching occurs during sleep, so the person may be oblivious to it, but family members might notice. Grinding can wear down your teeth. Clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. The symptoms can cause temporomandibular joint problems, in other words problems of the jaw.
Abrasion of Teeth
A person can actually grind their teeth so hard while asleep, that sometimes significant amounts of tooth structure can be lost over time. Usually it is the canines and incisors that are moved against each other in a side to side action. This can cause abrasion of the teeth and eventually wear down dental crowns and loosen teeth. It also leads to excessive tooth mobility and premature loss of teeth.
Sensitive Teeth
Due to excessive clenching and grinding of teeth, the jaws and teeth are eroded and teeth become sensitive to cold, pressure and other stimuli. Worn tooth enamel exposes the softer part of the tooth –the dentine- making the affected teeth susceptible to tooth sensitivity problems.
Sore and Painful Jaws
The incessant clenching of jaws and gnashing of teeth leads to sore and painful jaws. Teeth grinding usually occurs during sleep when the person in unaware that it is happening. As a result of this the chewing action associated with teeth grinding is much more powerful and gradually the jaws are affected along with the teeth leaving them sore, bruised and painful. Often persons suffering from sleep bruxism seek medical treatment for sore and painful jaws which eventually leads to the diagnosis of teeth grinding.
Receding and Painful Gums
When teeth grind hard against each over a long period of time, they flex at the gum line and the enamel of the teeth erodes away. The end result is receding gums which are extremely sore and painful due to the incessant clenching of jaws.
Headaches and Facial Pain
Headache associated with joint and muscle strain is a common symptom associated with teeth grinding.
Facial pain is also one of the most common symptoms that accompany bruxism because of the constant clenching of the jaws and the gnashing and grinding of teeth.
Earaches
Persons suffering from bruxism often complain of earaches. The earaches are primarily caused by the contraction of the jaw muscles. It just so happen that when the jaws move constantly and involuntarily the muscle that connects to the ear suffers as well.
Obstructive Nasal Breathing in Children
In the case of children bruxism is often associated with obstructive nasal and breathing symptoms due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Related Reading – Bruxism Information and Treatment
Symptoms of Bruxism
Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws. Bruxism often occurs during deep sleep or while under stress. Bruxism commonly occurs in children but most of them outgrow this condition into adolescence.
Bruxism is the medical term for the grinding of teeth or the clenching of jaws. Bruxism often occurs during deep sleep or while under stress. Bruxism commonly occurs in children but most of them outgrow this condition into adolescence.
Symptoms of Bruxism may vary in individuals. Some of the common symptoms are as follows:
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding or clenching of the jaws occurs involuntary and especially during sleep. It is the most common symptom of bruxism. The most severe and extensive grinding and clenching occurs during sleep, so the person may be oblivious to it, but family members might notice. Grinding can wear down your teeth. Clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around your jaw. The symptoms can cause temporomandibular joint problems, in other words problems of the jaw.
Abrasion of Teeth
A person can actually grind their teeth so hard while asleep, that sometimes significant amounts of tooth structure can be lost over time. Usually it is the canines and incisors that are moved against each other in a side to side action. This can cause abrasion of the teeth and eventually wear down dental crowns and loosen teeth. It also leads to excessive tooth mobility and premature loss of teeth.
Sensitive Teeth
Due to excessive clenching and grinding of teeth, the jaws and teeth are eroded and teeth become sensitive to cold, pressure and other stimuli. Worn tooth enamel exposes the softer part of the tooth –the dentine- making the affected teeth susceptible to tooth sensitivity problems.
Sore and painful jaws
The incessant clenching of jaws and gnashing of teeth leads to sore and painful jaws. Teeth grinding usually occurs during sleep when the person in unaware that it is happening. As a result of this the chewing action associated with teeth grinding is much more powerful and gradually the jaws are affected along with the teeth leaving them sore, bruised and painful. Often persons suffering from sleep bruxism seek medical treatment for sore and painful jaws which eventually leads to the diagnosis of teeth grinding.
Receding and painful gums
When teeth grind hard against each over a long period of time, they flex at the gum line and the enamel of the teeth erodes away. The end result is receding gums which are extremely sore and painful due to the incessant clenching of jaws.
Headaches and facial pain
Headache associated with joint and muscle strain is a common symptom associated with teeth grinding.
Facial pain is also one of the most common symptoms that accompany bruxism because of the constant clenching of the jaws and the gnashing and grinding of teeth.
Earaches
Persons suffering from bruxism often complain of earaches. The earaches are primarily caused by the contraction of the jaw muscles. It just so happen that when the jaws move constantly and involuntarily the muscle that connects to the ear suffers as well.
Obstructive nasal breathing in children
In the case of children bruxism is often associated with obstructive nasal and breathing symptoms due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
What is Bruxism?
Nov 24th
Bruxism basically means the grinding, gnashing or clenching of your teeth. Most people generally do it unconsciously while under stress or during deep sleep.
Bruxism affects the teeth and the structures surrounding the teeth and so it is both a dental and medical condition. Teeth grinding is a fairly common condition in both children and adults and usually happens during sleep.
Bruxism is a result of either stress or the misalignment of your teeth. After determining the exact cause of an individuals bruxism, it is fairly easy to treat the condition. If the cause is due to stress and psychological issues, then medicines can be prescribed and a consultation can be made with a psychologist for therapy. If the cause of your bruxism is due to your teeth not aligning properly with each other, a visit to the dentist can help with teeth alignment procedures or enamel protection or mouth guard.
Grinding of the teeth may cause problems with the jaw, mouth, face, denture and the teeth. Excessive teeth grinding can also sometimes cause headaches and earaches.
