Sleep bruxism is diagnosed by a doctor or a dentist , but the diagnostic process can vary depending on the type of health professional providing care. An overnight study in a sleep clinic, known as polysomnography , is the most conclusive way to diagnose sleep bruxism. However, polysomnography can be time-consuming and expensive and may not be necessary in certain cases.
Polysomnography can identify other sleep problems, like OSA, so it may be especially useful when a person has diverse sleep complaints. For many people, the presence of symptoms like tooth damage and jaw pain combined with reports of teeth grinding from a bed partner may be sufficient to determine that a person has sleep bruxism. Home observation tests can monitor for signs of teeth grinding, but these tests are considered to be less definitive than polysomnography.
There is no treatment that can completely eliminate or cure teeth grinding during sleep, but several approaches can decrease episodes and limit damage to the teeth and jaw. Some people who grind their teeth have no symptoms and may not need treatment. Other people may have symptoms or greater risk of long-term problems, and in these cases, treatment is usually necessary. High levels of stress contribute to bruxism when awake and asleep, so taking steps to reduce and manage stress may help naturally decrease teeth grinding.
As a result, many approaches focus on combating negative responses to stress in order to reduce its impact. Techniques for reframing negative thoughts are part of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia CBT-I , a talk therapy for improving sleep that may address anxiety and stress as well.
Improving sleep hygiene and employing relaxation techniques can have added benefits for falling asleep more easily. Medications help some people reduce sleep bruxism. Most of these drugs work by altering brain chemicals to reduce muscle activity involved in teeth grinding. Botox injections are another way of limiting muscle movement and have shown effectiveness in more severe cases of sleep bruxism. Most medications have side effects that may make them inappropriate for some patients or difficult to use over the long-term.
It is important to talk with a doctor before taking any medication for sleep bruxism in order to best understand its potential benefits and side effects. Various types of mouthpieces and mouthguards, sometimes called night guards, are used to reduce damage to the teeth and mouth that can occur because of sleep bruxism.
Dental splints can cover the teeth so that there is a barrier against the harmful impact of grinding. They may cover just a section of teeth or cover a wider area, such as the whole upper or lower teeth.
Other types of splints and mouthpieces, including mandibular advancement devices MAD , work to stabilize the mouth and jaw in a specific position and prevent clenching and grinding.
MAD work by holding the lower jaw forward, and they are commonly used to reduce chronic snoring. Avoiding gum and hard foods can cut down on painful movements of the jaw.
A hot compress or ice pack applied to the jaw may provide temporary pain relief. Facial exercises help some people reduce the pain in their jaw or neck.
Facial relaxation and massage of the head and neck area may further reduce muscle tension. A doctor or dentist may be able to suggest specific exercises or make a referral to an experienced physical therapist or massage therapist. Eric Suni has over a decade of experience as a science writer and was previously an information specialist for the National Cancer Institute.
Truong is a Stanford-trained sleep physician with board certifications in sleep and internal medicine. She is the founder of Earlybird Health. Learn why this may be better for…. Sleep apnea headaches are a type of morning headache common in people with obstructive sleep apnea.
Learn more about what…. An actigraphy device tracks your movements so your doctor can analyze your sleep patterns. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website.
These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Symptoms of teeth grinding Symptoms of teeth grinding include: facial pain headaches earache pain and stiffness in the jaw joint temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles, which can lead to temporomandibular disorder TMD disrupted sleep for you or your partner worn-down teeth, which can lead to increased sensitivity and even tooth loss broken teeth or fillings Facial pain and headaches often disappear when you stop grinding your teeth.
Tooth damage usually only happens in severe cases and may need treatment. When to see a dentist or GP See a dentist if: your teeth are worn, damaged or sensitive your jaw, face or ear is painful your partner says you make a grinding sound in your sleep The dentist will check your teeth and jaw for signs of teeth grinding.
Treating teeth grinding There are a number of treatments for teeth grinding. What causes teeth grinding? Stress and anxiety Teeth grinding is most often caused by stress or anxiety and many people are not aware they do it. Medicines Teeth grinding can sometimes be a side effect of taking certain types of medicine. Sleep disorders If you snore or have a sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnoea OSA , you're more likely to grind your teeth while you sleep.
You're also more likely to grind your teeth if you: talk or mumble while asleep behave violently while asleep, such as kicking out or punching have sleep paralysis , a temporary inability to move or speak while waking up or falling asleep have hallucinations , where you see or hear things that are not real, while semi-conscious Lifestyle Other factors that can make teeth grinding more likely, or make it worse, include: drinking alcohol smoking using recreational drugs , such as ecstasy and cocaine having lots of caffeinated drinks, such as tea or coffee 6 or more cups a day Teeth grinding in children Teeth grinding can also affect children.
Read More. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Table of Contents. What is bruxism? What are the symptoms of bruxism? Physical symptoms are usually related to the teeth and jaw. What causes bruxism? These include: The level of stress you have How hard you grind or clench your teeth and for how long Your ability to relax Your sleeping habits Whether your teeth are misaligned.
How is bruxism diagnosed? Can bruxism be prevented or avoided? Help your child relax at night: Limit television and electronics several hours before bed. Provide calm music for them to listen to. Give them a warm shower or bath. Allow them to read or listen while you read. Bruxism treatment Treatment for bruxism can depend on your symptoms or the underlying cause.
Living with bruxism Teeth clenching or grinding is not dangerous. Home care tips include: Apply wet heat or ice to sore jaw muscles. Massage the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and face. Avoid hard, dense, or chewy foods, such as nuts, bagels, or steak. Learn physical therapy stretching exercises. Relax your facial muscles throughout the day. Make sure your child is not exposed to secondhand smoke. These may cause pediatric sleep apnea, which leads to nighttime grinding.
Parasites Parasitic infection can lead to grinding. Medications Certain medications can cause bruxism. Types of medications used to treat teeth grinding include: Antidepressants Antipsychotics Anti-anxiety meds Yet, antidepressants like SSRIs and antipsychotic medications have been linked to increased risk of teeth grinding. Though not commonly thought of as a medication, nicotine is also a common cause of bruxism.
Genetics Teeth grinding seems to run in families. Misaligned Teeth Crooked or misaligned teeth are considered to be a leading cause of teeth grinding, especially at night. Treatment options for misaligned teeth may include: Braces Capping Bonding Reshaping the tooth Tooth extraction Wires or plates Surgery Vitamin Deficiency It seems strange, but in rare cases, a nutritional or vitamin deficiency may result in bruxism.
The following nutritional and vitamin deficiencies may cause teeth grinding: Vitamin B5 Magnesium Calcium Supplementing these nutrients may improve bruxism in certain cases. When to See Your Dentist You should see your dentist as soon as you recognize signs of teeth grinding, like morning headaches, pain in your jaw and facial muscles, or tooth sensitivity in the absence of tooth decay or gingivitis.
Medications Surgery Did you know? Sources Manfredini, D. Epidemiology of bruxism in adults: a systematic review of the literature. J Orofac Pain , 27 2 , Prevalence of sleep bruxism in children: a systematic review.
Dental press journal of orthodontics , 19 6 , Cochrane database of Systematic reviews , 4. Bruxism is associated with nicotine dependence: a nationwide Finnish twin cohort study. Association between exposure to secondhand smoke and sleep bruxism in children: a randomised control study. Tobacco Control , 21 4 , Association between sleep bruxism and alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and drug abuse: a systematic review.
The Journal of the American Dental Association , 11 , ADHD, bruxism and psychiatric disorders: does bruxism increase the chance of a comorbid psychiatric disorder in children with ADHD and their parents?. Sleep and Breathing , 12 4 , The correlation between intestinal parasitic infections and bruxism among year-old children in Isfahan. Dental research journal , 7 2 , Drug-induced bruxism.
SSRI-associated bruxism: A systematic review of published case reports. Neurology: Clinical Practice , 8 2 , The phenotype, psychotype and genotype of bruxism. Biomedical Reports , 8 3 ,
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