Bruxism

Bruxism, also called "gnashing," is the act of involuntary teeth grinding which occurs whether the person is  awake or asleep. The condition may lead to tooth damage and jaw pain. Nocturnal bruxism is categorized under parasomnia, a condition that occurs during sleep and creates a disruptive event. Bruxism imposes great problem since usually, the condition is not detected until the teeth are significantly damaged, which may take years. ^[1]

Epidemiology

Bruxism occurs in about 5% to 20% of adults, and is even more prevalent among children. Most patients develop the condition during adolescence or early adulthood. The condition rarely begins after age 40 and incidence decreases with age.^[1]

Causes

The exact cause in unknown. Suggested causes of bruxism are: anxiety, stress or tension, suppressed feelings like anger or frustration, aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type, abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth, other sleep problems, response to pain from an earache or teething as in children, complications from a disorder like Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease and adverse effect of some psychiatric drugs including certain antidepressants.^[2]

Symptoms

Since clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around the jaw, bruxism may lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems. Grinding can wear down the teeth and may bother sleeping partner/s. The affected person may have earache, eating disorders, headache, teeth sensitivity to hot, cold or sweets, insomnia and sore or painful jaw.^[3]

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is generally based on the patient's dental history and a dentist's careful re-examination as bruxism has characteristic wear on the teeth . Wear associated with grinding is most apparent on the molars, situated at the back of the mouth.^[1] A sleep specialist may conduct supplementary tests like  video monitoring and may measure how frequently the person's jaw muscles contract while asleep.^[2]

Treatment

A mouth guard may be used to protect the teeth from grinding during sleep. If stress is a contributing factor, stress counselling and medications may be given. Other tips to help stop teeth grinding are the following: avoid food or drinks that contain caffeine, avoid alcohol, train oneself not to clench or grind teeth or chew materials like pens. ^[4] Sore jaw muscles may be relieved by applying ice.^[3]

References:

1. http://www.healthcommunities.com/bruxism/index.shtml
2. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bruxism/DS00337/DSECTION=causes
3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001413.htm
4. http://www.medicinenet.com/teeth_grinding_bruxism/article.htm