You've heard about bruxism, but never thought you might have it too!

Here's how to go from “it can't happen to me” to “here's what I need to do”:

Who hasn't ground their teeth at some point, perhaps because of stress? Done for a short time, this behaviour has no consequences, but if the habit becomes persistent it can cause various problems. Teeth grinding is called bruxism, and it leads to progressive damage to the teeth.

In this article we take a closer look at the subject, explaining what bruxism is, what causes it, how the condition shows itself, what damage it does, what its consequences are, how it can be prevented and how it is treated.

Bruxism is a condition characterised by grinding, rubbing or clenching of the teeth, which causes them to wear down. It can occur both during the day and at night, so there are two types of bruxism: daytime and night-time. Most of the time, the person affected is unaware that they have bruxism and only finds out when they go to the dentist.

The causes of bruxism are not always known, especially since there is usually no single trigger, but the condition is often brought on by a combination of factors: stress, nervousness and anxiety play a predominant role in both daytime and night-time bruxism. The psychological component can also be considered fundamental to the onset of the condition: some emotional disorders cause anxiety and therefore encourage teeth grinding.

Moreover, some researchers have also found a genetic component in the onset of bruxism: in fact, around half of those affected have a family member who also has it.

As mentioned, bruxism is characterised by teeth grinding, but this is not its only sign. In fact, bruxism can also take the form of teeth clenching.

• The teeth undergo progressive wear, which shows up as follows:
• Tooth enamel is damaged;
• Teeth are weakened and even chipped;
• Tooth sensitivity develops;
• The patient has severe toothache and even pain in the face, neck or jaw;
• Headaches also occur;
• Bruxism makes tooth decay more likely, because the enamel is constantly being worn down;
• The patient may even suffer damage to the alveolar bone.

It is commonly believed that bruxism only occurs during sleep, but this is not entirely true. In fact, bruxism can also occur during the day and, even though the person is wide awake, they often don't realise they are doing it. Daytime bruxism is frequently (but not exclusively) attributed to nervousness and stress.

Besides dental hypersensitivity and constant pain in the facial muscles and teeth, bruxism can cause other problems, such as:

• Acute hypersensitivity. During grinding, the teeth wear down and are damaged, causing pain in the jaw area.
• Tooth sensitivity. Especially to cold, hot and sweet foods.
• Severe pain. The discomfort can spread to other parts of the body, causing pain in the neck, ears or head.
• Insomnia. The discomfort caused by the pain can lead to difficulty sleeping and sleep problems.
• When bruxism is not treated in time, it usually leads to jaw joint disorders or changes and to jaw misalignment, which can cause lockjaw (a symptom that makes it difficult to open the mouth properly or limits how far it opens) and even muscle contracture.

Usually, the first step is mainly to protect the health of the teeth and the chewing system. To do this, the dentist may suggest wearing a dental night guard, a clear plastic device that, worn during sleep, prevents the upper and lower teeth from touching when you grind them.

Since bruxism is also closely linked to anxiety and stress, practices such as meditation, yoga, massage or breathing exercises may help to resolve the problem. Where the patient's emotional wellbeing is also involved, it becomes necessary to consult a specialist, such as a psychologist or psychotherapist.

Although bruxism sometimes appears at a young age, certain precautions can be taken to prevent the condition or, at least, to ease its symptoms. The main ones are:

• Managing anxiety
• Physical activity
• Cutting down on alcohol
• Regular dental check-ups.

Stress is one of the main triggers, so it can be essential to lower your anxiety levels and learn to manage them through relaxation techniques. Physical activity also helps relieve stress and release all the tension built up during the day. Drinking less alcohol, especially in the evening, can promote more restful sleep.

It is also useful to have regular check-ups with your dentist both to identify the disorder and to spot any problems related to malocclusion. The sooner you find out you have bruxism, the sooner you can prevent tooth wear.