The unconscious act of constantly squeezing or grinding teeth is called bruxism. This disorder can occur both during the day and at night, when it is called nocturnal bruxism.
Bruxism is diagnosed by the dentist, and his treatment is done with relaxation sessions and with the use of a dental protection plate, which must be put between the teeth to sleep.
Causes of bruxism
Night bruxism does not always have a definite cause, but can be due to:
- Neurological problems, such as anxiety and Parkinson's;
- Use of medications such as Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Venlafaxine;
- Respiratory problems such as snoring and sleep apnea.
Excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, or frequent use of drugs increases the frequency of bruxism, both during the day and at night.
Symptoms of bruxism
The symptoms of bruxism are:
- Tighten and grind your teeth;
- Wear of the surface of the teeth, as shown in figure 1;
- Pain in the joints of the jaw, as shown in figure 2;
- Headaches upon waking;
- Daytime tiredness, because the quality of sleep is diminished.
Bruxism can lead to problems involving the malfunctioning of the temporomandibular joint, known as TMJ, which is the joint that connects the jaw to the skull. The diagnosis of this disease is made by the dentist, from the evaluation of the symptoms and the appearance of the teeth.
How To Treat Bruxism
Bruxism has no cure and its treatment aims to relieve pain and prevent problems in the teeth. Thus, a dental protection plate should be worn at night to avoid friction between the teeth, and some medications such as muscle relaxants, antidepressants and tranquilizers, which are normally used for a short period of time to avoid dependence.
In addition, relaxation techniques can be used to reduce stress and anxiety and, if necessary, psychological counseling.
To relieve pain, ice or warm water can be applied to the jaw muscles, avoid ingesting hard foods such as nuts or raw vegetables, neck, shoulder and face massage, and stretching exercises on awakening.
