The habit of grinding your teeth while sleeping, is it dangerous? & bull; hello healthy

Have you ever heard someone grind their teeth in their sleep? Or maybe you are like that yourself? Medically, this is called bruxism. Bruxism is a condition in which you grind your teeth unconsciously while sleeping. Bruxism is considered a sleep disorder. People who grind their teeth while sleeping usually also have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and sleep apnea.

Mild bruxism does not require further treatment or medication. However, in some cases, bruxism can lead to chin abnormalities, headaches, tooth decay, and other problems.

What causes bruxism?

Until now, it is not known exactly what causes bruxism in the medical world. However, it is estimated, bruxism can be caused by physical and psychological things. The following include:

Emotions, such as fear, stress, anger, and frustration
People's personalities, such as aggressive, competitive, and hyperactive
Malocclusion, asymmetrical position of the upper and lower jaw, thus preventing the teeth from meeting as they should
Other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea
Side effects of ear pain or toothache (usually occurs in children)
Reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus
Side effects of psychiatric drugs, such as phenothiazines or antidepressants (although this is rare)
The result of complications from other disorders, such as Huntington or Parkinson's

Bruxism can get worse due to the following factors:

Age. Bruxism often occurs in children. Usually, bruxism will go away by itself when the child enters adolescence.

Using certain substances. Your chances of developing bruxism will increase if you smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or take illegal drugs (such as methamphetamine or ecstasy).

Signs if you have bruxism

Because bruxism usually occurs while you are sleeping, you are usually not aware of it yourself. However, if you or someone sleeping nearby tells you that you grind your teeth a lot while you sleep, then you need to go to the dentist if you need further treatment or treatment.

Some of the symptoms that you may detect yourself as a result of bruxism are:

If you grind your teeth hard enough while sleeping until the person sleeping near you wakes up
If you feel that your teeth have become flatter, broken, chipped, or even loosened
If you feel the enamel on your teeth feels slippery or flat, exposing the inner lining of your teeth
If you feel your teeth have become more sensitive
If you feel pain in your chin or face
If you feel your chin muscles are tired
If you think you have an earache when you are not
If you have a mild headache, especially in the area around your temples
If you feel your gums hurt
If you feel indentation on your tongue

Is it necessary to see a doctor if you have bruxism?

You need to visit a doctor or dentist if you feel:

Your teeth feel more dull, damaged, or sensitive
Your chin, ears, or face ache
Protests from other people sleeping near you about the noise of your teeth grinding your teeth in your sleep
You feel your chin can't open and close completely

Complications that can occur due to bruxism

As already mentioned, bruxism is usually not severe. However, in serious cases, bruxism can cause other problems, such as the following:

Tooth or chin damage
Headache
Pain in the face
An abnormality in the temporomandibular muscle, the muscle located in front of your ear, which may sometimes sound when you open and close your mouth

How to treat and stop bruxism?

Because bruxism is usually not too severe, there is usually no need for special treatment. Especially if it occurs in children, bruxism usually goes away by itself as the child grows older. However, if bruxism gets worse, then you need special care. Because bruxism can be caused by physical or psychological causes, there are several types of treatment approaches that you can take. The following include:

Treatment in terms of dental health

If you have bruxism due to the improper position of your teeth, your doctor will usually recommend that you use the following tools. While these tools can prevent or repair your teeth, sometimes they may not cure the bruxism you have.

Splin or mouth guards. This tool is made to separate your upper and lower jaw to avoid damage to your teeth due to the habit of grinding your teeth. This tool can be formed from acrylic or other soft materials that can fit above or below your teeth.

Dental correction. Correcting your asymmetrical teeth can usually help you overcome bruxism. In some cases, if you feel your teeth are more sensitive and can't chew properly, the doctor will repair the top surface of your teeth. In some other cases, it may be advisable to use braces or oral surgery.

Treatment with therapy

This treatment is usually reserved for those of you who experience bruxism due to psychological problems. Here's an example:

Control stress.Bruxism can occur due to stress. Therefore, you may overcome bruxism by going to a counseling specialist or trying to devise strategies for you to reduce stress, for example exercising or meditation.

Behavioral therapy.If you are in the habit of grinding your teeth, try to learn to change your habit by practicing how to position your mouth and chin the way you should. Consult with your dentist how to position the mouth and chin properly and correctly.

Biofeedback.If you have trouble changing your habits, biofeedback may be able to help you. Biofeedback is a medical form used to control procedures and tools that can help teach you to control muscle activity in your chin.

Treatment with drugs

Actually, dealing with bruxism is not effective when using drugs. However, the following medicines can help you deal with bruxism:

Muscle relaxants (muscle relaxants). Your doctor may ask you to take muscle relaxants before you go to bed. However, this drug should only be used for a short period of time.

OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injection.Botox injection can also help some people with bruxism who are not able to be treated with various other treatment methods.

Home remedies

Apart from going to the doctor, dentist, and counseling specialist, you can also treat bruxism yourself at home. Here are the ways:

Reduce stress

Try listening to music, taking a warm bath, exercising, or whatever else makes you feel calmer. This can help lower your risk of developing bruxism.

Avoid using or consuming stimulant substances.Try to reduce or avoid the consumption of caffeinated products, alcohol, and illegal drugs. Also avoid smoking.

Apply healthy sleep hours.If you get enough hours of sleep, this can help you avoid bruxism.

Do not bite or bite into something that is not food.Avoid the bad habit of eating or biting into something that is not food, such as pencils, pens, and so on. Also avoid chewing gum, because chewing karent candy makes your chin muscles get used to grinding and makes you a habit of grinding your teeth as well.