Teeth Grinding and Clenching is a Common Side Effect of Anxiety

Teeth grinding and clenching, often referred to as bruxism, is happening subconsciously all over the world as people are sleeping. People are grinding their teeth thousands of times throughout the night without even realising.

 Studies have shown that teeth clenching and grinding is directly related to anxiety. In fact, the NHS bruxism guide states that about 70% of sleep-related bruxism cases are thought to be stress related. You can put up to 40x more pressure on your jaws whilst you are sleeping. This really puts into perspective the severity of bruxism and the need to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Tell Me More About Bruxism

Bruxism is the act of unconscious teeth grinding and jaw clenching. It is classified into two main types; awake bruxism and sleep bruxism. There is a distinct split between the two types. Sleep bruxism is usually much more severe and causes worse damage to your teeth. Often people don’t realise they’re grinding their teeth. It can become apparent only when a dentist flags up the issue. In some cases, grinding can be so loud that the sufferers partner is woken up at night and can alert you of the issue. Some of the symptoms of Bruxism are; facial pain, headaches and worn down teeth. Some of the issues caused by Bruxism, such as facial pain, will be reduced quickly after you eliminate grinding your teeth. However, if you teeth have worn down then you may need further corrective treatment from your dentist. Both children and adults are affected by teeth grinding. However, the majority of the cases occurs with those over 25 years of age.

What Are the Symptoms?

Teeth grinding and clenching not only affects the teeth but can also affect the ears, neck and facial muscles. Below are some of the most prominent symptoms resulting from bruxism.

Generic symptoms:

• Facial muscle pain (facial myalgia)
• Earache
• Headaches
• Stiffness in the shoulders
• Sleep Apnoea
• Sinus pain
• Tinnitus

Symptoms Related to the Mouth:

• Worn teeth
• More sensitive teeth
• Fractured teeth
• Fractured fillings
• Pain when opening your mouth

Don’t worry too much if you have found out that you are suffering from teeth grinding. The worst of the symptoms, such as the wearing down of the teeth, only happens in severe cases of bruxism.

I Think I have Bruxism, How Can I Fix It?

Teeth grinding is a common irritant amongst thousands of people. Bamboo Dental have recognised this and have set up a solution to help those of you who are suffering. There are several ways we can help those suffering from Bruxism. The most common and effective type of treatment is with the use of occlusal splints. These are a type of dental appliance. Other treatments include physiotherapy, the use of chiropractors and in some cases, hypnotherapy. These are considered to be much less effective than occlusal splints. In some cases, a mix of therapies can be put together into a treatment plan.

SCi Treatment Can Solve Your Teeth Grinding Issues

The SCi appliance is the most clinically effective FDA proved appliance for treating bruxism. The SCi is a small occlusal splint that fits over the front teeth. SCi is an acronym for ‘Sleep Clench Inhibitor’. It reduces the para-functional intensity of the tiny muscles at the joints of your jaw. This reduces the pressure your jaw can exude by up to 70%!

Conclusion

We have established the long lasting issues that can arise if teeth grinding is neglected. Luckily, your dentist will easily be able to spot the onset of teeth grinding. You just need to make sure that you have regular check ups so that any problems can be spotted as early as possible. The worst cases of Bruxism arise when sufferers avoid visiting their dentist. This can often be due to dental anxiety issues. If you happen to have dental anxiety then you could be hit with a double dose of dental disaster. You may be neglecting your teeth through fear of visiting your dentist. This increased anxiety in your body can cause you to grind your teeth and clench your jaw during your sleep. Bamboo Dental understand the difficulties those suffering from dental phobia can have. We therefore offer a kind and safe environment where you can discuss your issues with our professional dental team.