Bruxism is the involuntary pressure of teeth on each other. Bruxism usually occurs during sleep, but some people also grind their teeth when they wake up.

Bruxism can be caused by a physical expression of stress. For example, sensitive people tend to grit their teeth when they are angry, overly focused on a task, or when they are anxious. Bruxism is the involuntary pressure of teeth on each other and usually occurs in sleep. Causes can be stress, concentration, misaligned teeth, and drug abuse. Treatment for bruxism includes dental splints (used at night), repair of dental injuries, use of muscle relaxants, and stress management.

Methods of protecting teeth from bruxism

Anti-allergy varnish: Used by a dentist to protect teeth against allergies caused by enamel erosion.

Fluoride varnish or gel: Helps regenerate enamel and protects teeth against decay.

Orthodontics: If the occlusion causes the teeth to grind, the patient may be able to use orthodontics for treatment. In mild to moderate cases, invisible brackets may be better because they have the same protective effect as mouth protection.

Ways to stop bruxism

Although there is no cure for bruxism, there are various treatments and techniques that can help address the root causes.

Calmness: Because stress is associated with stress, there are methods including yoga, meditation, psychotherapy, and behavioral cognitive therapy (CBT) that can help.

Sport: Because stress is a major cause of bruxism, exercise can also help. This is because exercise releases endorphins. This substance helps reduce stress in the brain.

Diet management: Some drinks may inititate the gnashing of teeth. Therefore, it is best to avoid alcohol and caffeine (including tea, coffee, and caffeinated beverages) before going to bed. You can also avoid them altogether for a few weeks to see the effect on your health. The same is true of smoking. Quitting smoking has many health benefits.

Muscle exercises: Stretching exercises may help to cure it. If the chewing muscles in the jaw are exercised regularly, they will be less stressed when gnashing their teeth.

Muscle relaxants: Patients’ muscles may often be under pressure. Some patients can relieve this pain by using muscle emollients. However, it is best to talk to your doctor before starting treatment because some of them are addictive.

Some patients experience improvements by injecting botulinum toxin (Botox) into the masticatory muscles because Botox reduces muscle strength and this reduces the amount of bruxism damage. This is a very new technique and there is little medical research on its effectiveness and long-term effects.

Hypnosis: Because bruxism occurs subconsciously, hypnosis may be effective in treating it. This treatment can help with the underlying causes of bruxism, namely stress and anxiety. We recommend that you consult your dentist or specialist before starting any treatment.

Bruxism is an unconscious act for which there is no guarantee of complete and permanent healing. The patient suffers from this problem at night. The important thing is to be aware of the problem and see your dentist to take the necessary steps to limit it. The first step in diagnosing and evaluating bruxism injuries is to see a dental professional and get advice from them. If you can find out what causes or causes this disease, in the short term you can reduce the pain and damage caused by it, and in the long run you can even eradicate the problem.

You should consult with your dentist to choose treatment options.