Identify Know Causes of Bruxism
Approximately 8-10% of adults in the United States grind their teeth regularly. The involuntary grinding of the teeth is a medical condition called bruxism. Unfortunately, bruxism can cause serious issues including tension headaches, severe jaw pain, and potentially lasting damage to the teeth. If you believe you have bruxism, it may be worth contacting your dental provider to schedule an exam. Below is more information on how to identify signs and possible causes of bruxism to help you determine if you may have the condition.
What Causes Bruxism?
There are many possible factors, both psychological and physical, that can cause bruxism. Due to number of possible causes, it can be difficult to identify which cause may be responsible for your grinding. A few of the most common causes of bruxism include:
- Stress: A person may grind their teeth as a coping method to deal with stress, anxiety, or anger. Grinding the teeth is a common involuntary response to stress both day and night.
- Genetics: Studies show bruxism may be genetic. Approximately half of people with bruxism have a family member who also grinds their teeth.
- Sleep issues: Bruxism is more common among people who also have sleep issues, including snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders. If you know you have a sleep disorder, improving your sleep may help reduce the severity of your bruxism.
Additional factors that may cause bruxism include lifestyle habits such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and caffeine intake.
How to Identify The Cause of Your Bruxism?
If you have recently noticed you are experiencing headaches, tooth sensitivity, or pain and tenderness in the jaw, you may have bruxism. Left untreated, the condition can lead to severe dental outcomes, including loose or broken teeth. Properly treating your bruxism is linked to identifying the cause of the condition. The number of possible causes makes this process a bit of a challenge. A good place to start with identifying the possible cause of your grinding is to schedule an appointment with your dental provider and to start keeping track of your symptoms. This tracking can go a long way to giving your provider some clues to identify the possible causes of your teeth grinding. Reducing your stress using healthy coping strategies, daily exercise and counseling may help treat your symptoms. You can also try to limit the amount of stimulants you consume before bedtime, including limiting coffee or tobacco.
How Is Bruxism Diagnosed?
The process for diagnosing bruxism can vary greatly depending on the dental or healthcare provider, however the condition is always diagnosed by a dentist or doctor. Sometimes a provider may want to conduct an overnight study in a sleep clinic, called polysomnography. This sleep study is the most conclusive way to diagnose bruxism. However, polysomnography is not always needed to diagnose bruxism, and the study can be time-consuming and expensive. For many patients, the presence of numerous symptoms in conjunction with a bed partner reporting grinding is usually enough to diagnosis the condition.