Introduction to teeth grinding
Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is a condition that many people suffer from. This usually occurs when they are sleeping, at which time they unconsciously gnash or clench the teeth. It is also very common in children, not just adults.
When a person is grinding their teeth while sleeping, this behavior is probably caused by an extreme amount of stress that they are going through in their waking lives.
It is not only related to stress, but can also stem from improper jaw alignment, poor body posture, irregular eating and sleep habits and problems such as constipation.
It can lead to joint disorders in the jaw as well.
Usually, if a person is stress free and eats well, maintaining a healthy diet, the teeth grinding will go away.
However, if the problem persists there are ways to get rid of bruxism. Treatments
One common remedy that many people use as an immediate solution is wearing a splint or mouth guard while sleeping in order to protect the teeth.
Splints are designed to fit over the front of the teeth and they will protect the teeth and gums from injuries effectively. However, this is not a permanent solution.
There are things called biofeedback devices that are programmed to sense muscle activities in the jaw and monitor them. They get triggered when the teeth begin to grind and then the muscle activities are recorded.
Once the teeth grinding activities are noticed, the alarm will go off and the jaw movements are then expected to respond to this stimulus by slowing down.
The device actually sends pulses to the face that causes the jaw movements to slow down. They have been proven as an effective solution to teeth grinding, though the process is fairly complex.
Botox is something that you may have heard of, but probably in aesthetic plastic surgery and not in treating teeth grinding issues.
By using Botox injections, the muscles of the jaw can be weakened, which will reduce the contractions that are associated with teeth grinding.
However, it is a highly toxic substance and must be diluted significantly before it is used for medical purposes. Small doses have helped to stop teeth grinding and clenching; however, and they have also been able to get rid of correlating symptoms such as muscle tension in the jaw and migraines that are caused by this tension.
However, Botox must be taken under the watchful eye of a doctor, because there are many possible serious side effects.
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