Bruxism, TMJ and Occlusion

CUSTOMIZED TREATMENTS

What is bruxism?

Bruxism known as “teeth grinding” is the involuntary movement of clenching or grinding the teeth. This is an unconscious behavior performed mainly during sleep.

Bruxism generates great pressure and force on the teeth causing them to break, loosen and lose tooth enamel.

It can also cause the teeth to become more sensitive to hot or cold foods and liquids.

When bruxism is diagnosed early, grinding and clenching can be treated before it causes permanent damage to the teeth.

Many cases of bruxism are mild and may not require treatment; however, severe bruxism can cause tooth damage, jaw pain or fatigue, and headache.

Causes

Several factors appear to play a role in the development of the disorder. These include:

  • psychosocial factors: stress, mood, anguish, nervousness and “feeling sad”;
  • a person’s genes;
  • consuming alcohol or caffeine;
  • smoking;
  • medications: certain medications used to treat depression, seizures and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may increase the likelihood of bruxism.
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Diagnosis
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