Non-Surgical Bruxism Treatment Are Effective to Reduce Teeth Grinding

 

Bruxism Treatment

Understanding the Causes of Bruxism

Bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, is a condition where a person grinds, clenches or gnashes their teeth. It can occur during sleep, called sleep bruxism, or during the day while someone is awake. Some of the main causes of bruxism include stress, anxiety, certain medical conditions like Parkinson's disease or insomnia. Genetics may also play a role. In many cases, the exact cause is unknown. It is believed that bruxism occurs due to abnormal functioning of the masticatory muscles in the jaw.

Managing Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are significant triggers for bruxism. Learning stress management techniques can help control teeth grinding caused due to these factors. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga and mindfulness exercises are effective natural ways to relax the body and mind. Bruxism Treatment focuses on stress management techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and counseling to alleviate teeth grinding caused by anxiety and stress. Counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy may also help people address underlying anxiety issues causing bruxism. Keeping a relaxed lifestyle, prioritizing rest and avoiding excessive caffeine intake help reduce daily stress levels.

Dental Guards and Night Guards

Custom-made occlusal splints or mouthguards, commonly known as dental guards or night guards, are important non-surgical bruxism treatments. These thin plastic covers fit securely over the top or bottom teeth and create a small space between upper and lower jaw. This protects the teeth from clenching pressure when worn during sleep or daytime. Dental guards redistribute biting forces more evenly across teeth and jaws. Soft acrylic versions are comfortable for long-term daily wear. Replacing guards every few years ensures best effectiveness.

Biofeedback and Behavioral Therapies

Some dental professionals use techniques like biofeedback therapy for bruxism. This involves attaching sensors to mouth muscles to help identify clenching and grinding episodes. The wearer gets real-time feedback about muscle activity through visual or auditory signals. Over sessions, people learn to recognize and relax muscle contractions associated with teeth grinding. Behavioral modification therapies also teach relaxation techniques and conditioning responses to reduce stress-induced bruxism.

Medications in Select Cases

Muscle relaxants may be prescribed short-term in severe teeth grinding cases to relax jaw muscles. Drugs like Cyclobenzaprine are used at lowest effective doses for a few weeks at most as they can cause side effects. Antidepressants have also shown benefits for reducing stress-related bruxism but require close medical supervision. Botox injections into masticatory muscles are occasionally used off-label on a short-term basis, but long term safety is still being evaluated. Medications are not first-line bruxism treatments and doctors closely monitor risks versus benefits.

 Physiotherapy and Soft Diet

Physiotherapy focuses on relaxing jaw muscles through techniques like massage, ultrasound therapy and microcurrent therapy. At-home jaw exercises and stretches taught by physiotherapists help improve flexibility and relieve tension. Following a soft diet that does not require much chewing effort can temporarily reduce grinding severity. Soft foods cause less muscle contraction compared to tough, crunchy items that require extensive chewing. This gives muscles a chance to rest.

 Treating any Underlying Medical Conditions

In some cases, bruxism may be linked to medical issues like Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, untreated sleep apnea or neurological disorders affecting motor functions. Consulting a doctor helps diagnose and manage underlying contributors effectively. For example, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are often very successful at treating sleep bruxism caused due to undiagnosed sleep apnea. Controlling medical triggers with medications or lifestyle changes reduces symptoms over the long run.

 Reducing Relapse with Maintenance Therapies

Though non-surgical bruxism treatments effectively reduce teeth grinding severity, there remains a risk of symptoms relapsing over time if triggers are not addressed. Dental guards should continue being worn periodically as a maintenance and preventive measure even once symptoms improve significantly. Identifying personal stress triggers helps implement long-term stress-reducing habits and lifestyle modifications. Periodic counselling or medication adjustments with doctors are important to address any ongoing psychosocial issues contributing to bruxism. This maintenance approach helps keep symptoms well-managed long-term without major flare-ups.

Bruxism has multiple causes but effective treatments exist without needing surgery or dental procedures in majority cases. A comprehensive approach focusing on stress control, use of dental guards, physiotherapy, treatment of medical triggers if any and long-term maintenance yields good success in reducing teeth grinding. With adherence, non-surgical options can significantly improve both dental health as well as quality of life.

Get more insights, On Bruxism Treatment