What Is Bruxism? Signs, Symptoms, Causes ,Treatment Explained

Bruxism is a common dental issue which means you are grinding, gnashing or clenching your teeth involuntarily. Millions of adults and children across the world suffer from it. Many people don’t realize they are grinding their teeth while they are awake or sleeping. Sleep bruxism is a type of movement disorder whilst you are asleep. It often occurs along with other issues such as sleep apnoea or heavy snoring.

If left untreated, bruxism will cause significant damage to your enamel, chronic jaw pain, cracked dental work and frequent headaches. By recognizing the symptoms early, you can take quick action to protect your natural teeth.

What Is Bruxism and What Causes It?

Bruxism is an involuntary behavior which causes you to grind your teeth or forcefully clench your jaw muscles. There are two types of bruxism, which can be diagnosed by your dentist:

Awake Bruxism – Whilst concentrating on your work, when you are stressed or have a high level of anxiety, you involuntarily clench your jaw or grind your teeth.
Sleep Bruxism – Whilst asleep you repeatedly grind your teeth or clench your jaw. Since you have no control over your body whilst sleeping, you put a lot more pressure on your teeth.

High levels of stress, anxiety, anger or frustration cause involuntary tightening of the jaw muscles and teeth grinding.
Sleep disorders – Sleep bruxism is often linked with issues such as breathing difficulties whilst sleeping, obstructive sleep apnoea, night terrors and waking suddenly.
Side effects of medications – Some prescribed medications can cause bruxism as a side effect. This includes psychiatric medications such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
High consumption of caffeine, alcohol, smoking and recreational drugs greatly increase your risk of severe jaw clenching.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Bruxism?

What Are the Physical Signs of Sleep Bruxism?

Since you are asleep whilst suffering from sleep bruxism, many people won’t realize they have the issue until they notice clear damage to their teeth or gums.

Painful jaw – When you wake up, your jaw will feel stiff and painful. You may also feel a dull ache, tired muscles and tightness around your jaw joint.
Dull headaches – You will suffer from persistent dull headaches at the temples when you wake up.
Pain in the face and neck – Constant overuse of your jaw muscles will cause radiating pain throughout your neck, shoulders and lower face muscles.
Earache like pain – Pain in your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) will cause you to feel pain similar to an earache. However, your inner ear will still be completely healthy.
Partner disturbance – Whilst you are sleeping your partner will be able to hear the loud grinding, clicking and crunching of your teeth.

What Are the Dental Signs of Bruxism?

A qualified dentist can easily identify the physical signs of chronic bruxism.

Flat teeth – Due to the intense grinding, the chewing surfaces of your natural teeth will become worn down and flat.
Cracked teeth – The intense biting force causes micro cracks in the teeth, chips to the enamel edges and complete cracking of your natural teeth.
Yellow dentin – As the outer enamel wears away you will start to expose the soft yellow dentin underneath. This will cause sensitivity to hot and cold foods.
Loose teeth – The intense sideways force causes weakening of the ligaments and bone surrounding your teeth. This will make them feel loose.
Damaged dental work – Bruxism often causes your composite fillings to pop out, your porcelain crowns to crack and damages your fixed bridgework or implants.
Indented tongue – The intense suction caused by clenching will cause your tongue to press against your teeth. This will leave scalloped edges on the sides of your tongue.

How Is Bruxism Diagnosed?

An accurate diagnosis will ensure you receive the correct treatment.

Full dental examination – Your dentist will examine your teeth to see how worn the enamel is, check for any existing fillings and how stable your teeth are.
Jaw joint – Your dentist will physically examine your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to see if there is any clicking, pain or limited movement.
Full medical history – Your dental team will check your stress levels, current medications, how much caffeine you consume and how well you sleep.
3D intraoral scanner – Modern practices will use a 3D digital scanner to capture the current state of your teeth. This will help monitor how much enamel has been lost at your next appointment.
Sleep studies – If your dentist suspects you have obstructive sleep apnoea, they will refer you to a board certified sleep specialist for a polysomnography.

What Are the Complications of Leaving Bruxism Untreated?

Not taking notice of the symptoms can lead to serious long term issues and expensive treatments.

Loss of enamel – Severe grinding will cause you to lose all of your enamel. This will require complex crowns or veneers to be placed across your whole mouth.
Chronic TMJ – Constant clenching causes inflammation to your jaw joint. This can cause chronic temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), locked jaws and chronic facial pain.
Gum recession – The excessive biting force causes irritation to your gum margin. This will cause recession, exposing the roots of your teeth and causing sensitivity.
Loss of facial height – Worn teeth will cause loss of natural height to your lower face. This will cause premature aging around your mouth.

How Can You Manage and Prevent Bruxism?

There are various ways to manage bruxism.

Custom night guards – Your dentist will create a bespoke acrylic night guard to fit over your teeth. This will absorb the intense force and prevent damage to your enamel.
Reduce stress – Try meditating, deep breathing, exercise or yoga to reduce your stress levels throughout the day.
Avoid jaw clenching – Try to keep your lips closed, teeth separated and tongue resting against the roof of your mouth.
Treat sleep apnoea – Using a CPAP machine or a bespoke sleeping appliance will reduce breathing issues whilst you are asleep.
Avoid stimulants – Avoid consuming coffee, tea, energy drinks or alcohol a few hours before bed.

What Should You Check for Bruxism?

Do you suffer from jaw stiffness, tight facial muscles or headaches at the temples when you wake up?
Look in the mirror to see if your teeth are worn down, have chips or yellow dentin showing.
Ask your bed partner if they can hear you grinding loudly whilst you are asleep.
Check if you have scalloped indentations on the outer edge of your tongue.
Do you suffer from sensitivity to hot or cold drinks due to worn teeth?
Book a full diagnostic appointment with your dentist to identify any enamel loss.
Wear a bespoke night guard every night to protect your teeth and jaws.

What Are the Frequently Asked Questions About Bruxism?

Can Bruxism Go Away?

Often awake bruxism will improve if you reduce your stress levels or change your habits. However, sleep bruxism rarely goes away unless the underlying causes are addressed. Wearing a night guard will prevent any physical damage from occurring whilst you work on the cause.

How Will I Know If I Am Grinding My Teeth at Night If I Live Alone?

Common signs include jaw pain, dull headaches at the temples, increased tooth sensitivity or chipping. Your dentist will be able to identify clear signs during a routine check-up.

Are Over the Counter Night guards as Good?

No. Over the counter boil and bite night guards are made from a soft material which can actually cause your jaw muscles to chew more whilst you sleep. A bespoke night guard created by your dentist will fit perfectly to your bite. This will provide durable protection and keep your jaw in a safe position.

Being able to recognize the early signs of bruxism such as jaw stiffness, headaches at the temples and worn enamel will help protect your long term health. Using bespoke night guards, reducing stress and visiting your dentist regularly will help protect your real teeth and keep your jaws healthy. If you think you may be grinding your teeth book a comprehensive dental examination today.