Bruxism is a functional disorder characterized by grinding or clenching of the teeth during the day or, more commonly, during sleep.

What causes bruxism?
Doctors still do not fully understand the causes that lead to bruxism. Possible physical or psychological reasons for this disorder may include:

• Feelings of anxiety, stress, anger, frustration, or tension
• Abnormal alignment of the upper and/or lower teeth (malocclusion)
• Other sleep problems, such as sleep apnoea
• Response to earache or toothache (mainly in children)
• Stomach acid reflux into the esophagus and mouth
• Unusual side effect of some psychiatric medications, such as certain antidepressants
• Complication of a disease, such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease

What are the risk factors for bruxism?
Some factors increase the risk of bruxism. Check it out:

1. Stress:Increased anxiety or stress, as well as feelings of anger and frustration, can lead to teeth grinding.
2. Age:Bruxism is common in children and usually disappears during adolescence.
3. Personality Type:Having an aggressive, competitive, or hyperactive personality type can increase your risk of bruxism.
4. Stimulating substances:Cigarette nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and drugs can also increase the risk of bruxism.

What are the symptoms of bruxism?
Signs and symptoms of bruxism often include:

• Grinding or clenching teeth: sometimes so loud it can wake up a person sleeping next to you
• Flat, fractured, chipped or loose teeth
• Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of the tooth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Jaw or Face Pain
• Jaw pain
• Pain that feels like an earache - but is actually a result of bruxism
• Headache
• Tongue indents

Does bruxism have serious symptoms?
Other more serious symptoms include:

• Eating Disorders
• Anxiety, irritability, stress and tension
• Depression
• Feeling hot or cold in the teeth
• Insomnia

Where to get help for bruxism treatment?
See a doctor for bruxism if:

1. Your teeth are worn, damaged or sensitive
2. You have pain in your jaw, face or ears
3. Other people complain that you make noises in your sleep
4. Your jaw does not open and close fully
5. You notice that your child, for example, is grinding or clenching his teeth, or if he also shows other signs or symptoms of bruxism.

Which specialties can diagnose bruxism?

• Medical clinic
• Dentistry
• Psychiatry
• Speech Therapy
• Diagnostics

How to be sure of the diagnosis of bruxism?
An examination can rule out other disorders that may be behind the jaw pain or earache, including:

• Dental disorders
• Ear disorders, such as infections
• Problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
• The diagnosis of bruxism is usually made through clinical observation by the dentist.

How does bruxism treatment work?
The main goals of bruxism treatment are to reduce pain, prevent permanent damage to the teeth, and reduce grinding as much as possible.
A bruxism brace can help reduce locking. There are many different types of them, with some fitting the upper teeth and others the lower teeth. They may be designed to keep your jaw in a more relaxed position or provide some other function. If one type doesn't work, another might do. Talk to a dentist about the best splint for your case of bruxism.

How to live with bruxism?
To help relieve the pain of bruxism, there are many care steps that can be performed at home. For example:

• Apply ice or moist heat to the jaw muscles
• Avoid eating harder foods such as nuts, candies and meat
• Drink plenty of water every day
• Get enough sleep
• Learn physical stretching exercises to help restore a normal balance of muscle and joint action on each side of the head
• Relax your face and jaw muscles during the day. The goal is to make facial relaxation a habit
• Try to reduce your daily stress and learn relaxation techniques

Does bruxism cause serious complications?
In most cases, bruxism does not cause serious complications, but the problem can eventually lead to another:

• Permanently damage your teeth
• Tension Headache
• Pain in the face
• Disorders that occur in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), located in front of the ears

Is there a cure for bruxism?
Bruxism is not a dangerous disorder. However, it can cause permanent damage to your teeth and uncomfortable jaw pain, headaches or earache. For this reason, it is important to look for a dentist and seek, together with him, the best form of treatment.

How to prevent or reduce bruxism?
Reducing stress and managing anxiety can reduce bruxism in people prone to the condition. Other possible causes of bruxism cannot always be prevented.