Has anyone ever told you that you make noises while you sleep? If so, you may have bruxism
Bruxism is an excessive activity of the muscles of mastication which includes teeth grinding, clenching or gnashing, and/or jaw clenching, rubbing or sliding. This condition can occur in children, adolescents, and adults across different age groups and manifests in two main types: awake bruxism, which occurs during the day, and sleep bruxism(also known as nocturnal bruxism), which happens at night.
Sleep Bruxism: Symptoms and Causes
Teeth grinding is more common in sleep bruxism, while teeth clenching is a characteristic of awake bruxism. This pressure may lead to wearing and softening of the teeth. In more serious cases, there can also be issues with the bones, gums and jaw joint, such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).
Bruxism can also present symptoms such as ear pain or ringing, neck pain, jaw and facial muscle pain due to the strain on the muscles involved in chewing, clicking sounds when opening and closing the mouth, and sleep disturbances. The intensity and frequency of episodes can vary from night to night.
The causes of bruxism may include stress, anxiety, misaligned teeth, nervous system problems, and even sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.
Sleep Bruxism: Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose and clinically evaluate teeth grinding, a sleep study known as polysomnography can be suggested to register such episodes. It can also identify alterations within sleep architecture, brief awakenings during the night, snoring, and sleep disorders.
If the diagnosis of bruxism has already been completed and the goal is to understand the correlation between sleep apnea and the severity of this condition, an excellent option for further investigation is the Biologix Sleep Test®.
The Biologix Sleep Test® is a type IV polysomnography that measures channels such as oxygen saturation, heart rate, actimetry and snoring through the microphone of the cellphone. This test can be performed at home and is simple, practical, and effective. Furthermore, both physicians and dental surgeons use it to diagnose and treat sleep apnea. At bedtime, the patient only needs to place the sensor on their finger and start the test in the Biologix app. Upon waking up the next morning, after finishing the test, the result will be available in a matter of seconds.
Treating bruxism aims to reduce pain, prevent permanent damage to the teeth, and minimize grinding as much as possible. The approach will depend on the cause of the problem.
A dentist might suggest the use of occlusal splints to protect dental structures. Treatment can also focus on improving the patient's quality of life, through stress management, relaxation techniques, reducing the consumption of coffee and tobacco, or using medication. It is up to both the professional and the patient to decide which approaches are most suitable in each case. However, maintaining a healthy sleep routine is recommended in any situation.
Bruxism can lead to significant issues if left untreated! If you think you suffer from this problem, consult a trusted dentist and start a specific treatment.
IMPORTANT! Only properly qualified physicians and dental surgeons can diagnose diseases, recommend treatments and prescribe medications. The information available herein is for educational purposes only..
