Teeth Grinding Treatment

The clinical term used for teeth grinding is bruxism. Teeth grinding can be described as the habit of clenching the teeth consciously or unconsciously. This problem not only affects the teeth but also other nearby structures including the brain. For this reason, it is considered as a medical as well as a dental problem. It can affect both children and adults. Teeth grinding at night is more common and it happens when the affected person is sleeping. Before we talk about teeth grinding treatment, let us find out about its causes and symptoms.

Causes and Symptoms

The exact cause behind teeth grinding problem is not yet known. It is commonly found in hyperactive and aggressive type of people. Psychological issues like anxiety, stress, anger, frustration are often held responsible for this. Abnormal alignment of the teeth, also known as malocclusion, teething, pain in the ear, growth of jaw are some of the causes that can give lead to teeth grinding in children.

In some rare cases, it develops because of side effects of medicines like antidepressants or health problems like Parkinson's disease. Worn down or chipped teeth, sensitive tooth, facial pain, jaw pain, earache, headache are some of the signs of regular teeth grinding. Children often show symptoms like sucking of thumb, chewed tissue inside the mouth, gnawing of their toys that indicates the habit of teeth grinding.

Treatment

There are many children who do not require any teeth grinding treatment and they simply outgrow the habit. However, if it is in a serious form, then the dentist need to be consulted. Use of mouth guard is one of the most popular method of treatment. It can be purchased from the drug stores or it can be custom-made from the dentist, that will fit better inside the mouth. It has to be worn at night which will act as mouth protector and prevent teeth grinding in sleep and protect the tooth enamel as well. Splint is another device used for this purpose. It is made of hard acrylic and fits over the upper and lower teeth. This is more expensive than the mouth guard and has a better fitting.

If the problem is due to misaligned teeth, then it has to be corrected. Tooth sensitivity arising due to wearing down of tooth can make chewing of food difficult. Dentists often use crowns in order to reshape the chewing surfaces of the teeth completely. However, this treatment cannot control the actual problem of bruxism.

As it is believed to be caused by stress, doctors recommend various relaxation techniques for stress management. This often involves exercises, meditation, warm bath before going to bed, etc. If parents talk to their children with anxiety problems about their suppressed fears, they can cope with the situation better.

Since it is a habitual problem for many, behavior therapy can be used to change the habit. In this therapy, one has to practice a proper mouth and jaw position and thus prevent the jaw from getting clenched. This can be done by keeping the tongue up while the teeth are apart and the lips are in closed condition. Hypnosis is another form of treatment which have been proved to be highly beneficial for many people.

In general, medicinal treatment for this problem does not yield satisfying results. Muscle relaxants is often prescribed which should be taken before bedtime. Some severe cases have found to be improved with the help of botox injections. When it is caused due to side effects of medicines, then changing those medicines can bring about improvement in the condition.

Thus, you can see that teeth grinding treatment is basically based upon the underlying cause. However, there is no magical solution to eliminate this problem. The right option for treatment have to be chosen by using trial and tested method. It should be noted that the method of treatment which worked for you may not be effective for your friend.