Page 1 of 25 - goldsteindentalgroup.com€¦ · Properly aligned teeth can alleviate teeth grinding in many people. 4. Concentration Though sleeping bruxism is more common, many people

The Definitive Guide to Teeth Grinding Raphael V. Goldstein, DDS

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© Copyright 2016, Raphael V. Goldstein, DDS, All Rights Reserved


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The Definitive Guide to Teeth Grinding Why it Happens and How to Stop

Raphael V. Goldstein, DDS

Managing Partner, Goldstein Dental Group, PLLC 23895 Novi Road | Novi | MI | 48375 https://goldsteindentalgroup.com

Telephone: (248) 374-2273

About The Author

Dr. Goldstein earned his undergraduate degree with honors and high distinction in 1985 from Michigan State University, Lansing. He then completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1989 from the University of Michigan – School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor. He completed his post-graduate hospital general practice residency training at Ravenswood Hospital & Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. He subsequently was invited to serve as a hospital attending medical staff member for four years before deciding to return to the metro Detroit area. He is a skilled practitioner and loved by his patients of all ages. Dr. Goldstein takes pride in offering his patients outstanding oral care in a very comfortable environment.

Dr. Goldstein remains on the cutting edge of dental medicine and regularly participates in continuing education programs. His past and present professional affiliations include membership in the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association,

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Oakland County Dental Association, Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, Academy of General Dentistry & the Alpha Omega Dental Society.

When not practicing dentistry, Dr. Goldstein enjoys spending time with his three children. He also enjoys riding motorcycles and has climbed to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He is an exceptional chef and truly loves to cook… A joy he inherited from his Italian mother.


Contents

About The Author 2

Contents 3

Introduction 4

What is Teeth Grinding 5

An epidemic 7

Symptoms 8

The Reasons Behind Teeth Grinding 10

The Health Impact of Grinding Your Teeth 17

How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth 20

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Introduction The jaw pain. The grating headache. The degraded teeth. There are

many ways both daytime and nighttime teeth grinding can adversely

affect your health and wellbeing.

Research suggests the grinding problem may be fairly common, with

somewhere around 10 to 15 percent of the population affected,

though these statistics are hard to verify because patients may be

unaware they have a problem. Though many people may clench

their teeth from time to time when they're in pain or under acute

stress, it's the persistent grinding that can cause pain and tooth

wear. This ebook will cover why teeth grinding occurs, its effects on

your health, and how to alleviate the problem.

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What is Teeth Grinding?

Bruxism is the formal name for teeth grinding and clenching. People

with bruxism unconsciously clench and grind their teeth either while

awake or asleep.

Nearly 80 percent of teeth grinding cases are sleep-related. Sleep

bruxism is actually considered a sleep-related disorder and is

associated with other sleep disorders such as snoring and sleep

apnea.

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Though less common, daytime teeth clenching (and to a lesser

extent grinding) still happens unconsciously and is associated with

extreme concentration or stressful situations.

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An Epidemic

As the stress of our modern, uber-connected world builds, teeth

grinding cases may be rising with it. You can develop bruxism at any

age (including during childhood), but adults especially develop it

when faced with life challenges or chronic stress.

And because it's not easy to spot in the beginning, you could be

doing a lot of damage and not even know it. The good news is that

teeth grinding is treatable.

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Symptoms

If you sleep with a partner, they may be the first to notice nighttime

grinding due to the noise it creates.

People who grind their teeth may also be affected by anxiety,

depression, eating disorders, and insomnia.

Because grinding tends to happen during sleep, symptoms may be

the worst after waking and subside during the day. If you have any of

these symptoms, or suspect you may be a grinder, a dentist can

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Signs and Symptoms of Teeth Grinding Include

• Flattened, chipped, fractured, or loose teeth • Worn enamel • Increasingly sensitive teeth • Jaw and face pain • Pain around the ear area (not an earache) • Dull headache • Damage to the inside of the cheek from chewing


usually determine if there's a problem by assessing the wear on your

teeth and checking for jaw tenderness.

Getting a dental exam can also help you rule out problems with

similar symptoms including ear infections and other dental disorders.

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The Reasons Behind Teeth Grinding

1. Stress, Anger, and Frustration

Though the causes of bruxism are not entirely understood, stress is

often the leading trigger for this problem. If you live a life defined by

stress, anger, anxiety, frustration, and other high-tension emotions,

you may be more likely to clench or grind your teeth.

Stress is a normal body reaction to a situation your body and mind

deem harmful. Back in humanity’s early days, we would have used

this stress and adrenaline to deal with intense situations (think:

hunting mammoths). But in our modern society, the stresses of work,

money, and family can stay with us day in and day out. According to

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the American Psychological Association's 2014 report, 75 percent of

Americans reported at least one symptom of stress in the last month.

This chronic, unrelenting stress is affecting our mental state and our

physical health.

Stress can manifest itself in many ways: trouble sleeping, irritable

behavior, poor eating habits — and teeth grinding.

It's often hard to get away from your stressors during the day when

computers, email, and phones seem to crowd our lives. What's even

worse is when we take that ever-connected technology with us to

bed — a space meant for relaxation and rest. Many Americans sleep

with a mobile phone within arm's reach of their pillow. Besides the

beeps and buzzes the phone could emit during the night, the

subconscious knowledge that the device is right there can add

stress to your sleep routine and contribute to teeth grinding.

2. Hyperactive and Aggressive Personalities Just like stress can cause teeth grinding, both hyperactive and

overly aggressive people may find themselves more likely to grind as

a result of these strong feelings.

A hyperactive mind may cause bruxism due to an inability to relax. If

your mind isn’t letting you relieve yourself from the stress of daily life,

you may suffer some stress-related side effects.

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Aggression is similar in that extended, habitual anger can cause

tension and stress in your body. Anger management programs can

help people realize their aggression problems and work to correct

them. People with this personality type should pay particular

attention to signs of bruxism.

3. Misaligned Teeth Poorly aligned teeth (called malocclusion) is a common cause of

teeth grinding in children and adults. Children's mouths are

constantly changing and they usually outgrow grinding, but adults

with misaligned teeth could be setting themselves up for future tooth

damage.

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During the day, poorly aligned teeth aren't a huge problem because

the brain can realign your bite so your mouth still functions to its best

ability. At night, grinding can happen when the brain keeps trying to

align your bite over and over.

Fixing a misalignment can be easy, (grinding down a small part of a

tooth) or more complicated (braces or other corrective measures).

Properly aligned teeth can alleviate teeth grinding in many people.

4. Concentration

Though sleeping bruxism is more common, many people suffer from

clenching or grinding while under periods of deep concentration. For

many people, this clenching is a subconscious action that you may

not even know is happening, just like grinding during sleep. For

others, this is a bad habit formed over time.

Since you are awake, it is possible to catch yourself clenching and

practice releasing the muscles. Practice relaxing the jaw muscles

throughout the day to help train your brain to relax. You may be able

to train yourself to stop clenching by positioning the tip of your

tongue between your teeth.

5. Sleep Disorders

Bruxism is categorized as a movement disorder that happens during

sleep, which places it in the same category as snoring, restless leg

syndrome, and sleep apnea. Teeth grinding is very strongly

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coordinated with sleep apnea, which is a common disorder where

you have one or more pauses in breathing while you sleep. It can be

dangerous if left untreated.

If you fail to get a good rest night after night, teeth grinding may

occur along with other sleep-related disorders.

6. Malnutrition

A poor diet can lead to the lack of key nutrients, including those that

help your body manage stress. If you're missing some of these

vitamins, you may be less able to deal with daily stress, which can

contribute to teeth grinding.

B-complex vitamins, especially B5, have been shown to help control

teeth grinding. A lack of this set of vitamins has been linked to

severe stress, panic attacks, and depression. You can either

supplement with a quality B-complex vitamin or eat more foods that

are high in these vitamins, such as dark-green leafy vegetables,

almonds, pecans, salmon, potatoes, shellfish, yogurt, avocados, and

egg yolks.

Vitamin C, so essential for fighting colds, is also an important mood

moderator and plays a role in our body’s stress-related adrenaline

chemicals. Vitamin C is fairly easy to supplement with, but it's also

found in broccoli, berries, citrus fruit, bell peppers, and dark leafy

greens.

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Calcium and magnesium plays an important role in how your body

controls its muscles. A deficiency could cause cramps and muscle

tension, including in the jaw. Find calcium in dairy products,

almonds, green beans, and broccoli. Magnesium is rich in avocados,

bananas, nuts, seeds, fish, and beans.

7. Pain Response

When your body is stressed, muscle tension can be a subconscious

reflex reaction — it's your body's way of protecting itself against

injury.

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Similarly, when we're in pain, your body may feel like it has to brace

itself for any future pain, and your muscles will tense up. Especially

severe or long-lasting chronic pain can cause this tension, too.

Spending hours fighting pain can affect your sleep and lead to teeth

grinding. Many people may clench their jaw while in pain either

during the day or while sleeping. Children suffering from an earache

or teething pain may clench or grind in response.

8. Health Complications

Disorders including Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease

can factor into bruxism cases. Teeth grinding can also be a side

effect of some psychiatric medicines, including those for depression.

Lifestyle factors like drinking excessive alcohol, smoking, caffeine

level, and recreational drugs can also be a factor in teeth grinding.

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The Health Impact of Grinding Your Teeth

Extended teeth grinding and clenching can have a lasting impact on

the health of your mouth.

Tooth damage

Teeth grinding leads to the wearing down of enamel, the protective

coating that keeps your teeth strong. Enamel is the hardest

substance in the human body, which makes it great for chewing

tough foods. But when you're chewing, your teeth rarely touch

together. Grinding your teeth at night is like spending hours chewing

without the food, and teeth aren't really built for that. Grinding can

wear down the enamel and expose the sensitive dentin. Enamel

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doesn't grow back, so it's important to stop the grinding as soon as

possible.

Enamel can be brittle, which means grinding and clenching can also

cause pieces to break off, resulting in a chipped or cracked tooth.

When a tooth is very badly damaged, it may have to be replaced

with a dental bridge or implant.

Jaw pain

Extended clenching and grinding can also lead to disorders of the

temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which is the hinge that connects

your jaw to your skull near the ears. A disorder of this joint may

sound like clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth.

The pain can make it hard to chew, talk, and move your mouth.

Gum Recession Though bruxism isn't the cause, teeth grinding and clenching puts

your mouth under constant pressure that can sometimes make pre-

existing gum health concerns (periodontal disease) worse. If your

gums are already inflamed and in poor health, the grinding pressure

may worsen receding gums. The pressure may increase the

breakdown of periodontal ligament and bone. Even in the absence

of inflammation, recession very often occurs resulting in the need for

gum surgery. Additionally, notches near the gum line (abfraction

lesions) can also develop due to the added stress on teeth.

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Headache and migraine

The tension related to stress and the grinding response can lead to

headaches and migraines, especially emanating from the temple

area. The low-grade, background headache that is often associated

with bruxism is a result of the muscle tension surrounding the

grinding act.

Hearing loss

The jaw pressure and tension can even cause a ringing or buzzing

noise in your ears called tinnitus. In some cases, loss of hearing can

occur on one or both ears mostly likely caused by muscle spasms in

the ear.

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How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth

What may work to control your teeth grinding may not work for

another person, so you may have to try a couple to find what works

for you. You’ll want to talk with your dentist about some of these

options, while others can be done safely at home. Find something

that works for your lifestyle that eliminates the pain and damage of

bruxism from your life.

Get a custom mouth guard

Dental mouth guards are custom-made appliances worn at night to

protect teeth from the wear caused by grinding. These guards are

made by creating a mold from your actual teeth — so it fits like a

glove!

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The guard, made from a cured acrylic resin or sometimes a soft

material, usually fits over either the upper or lower teeth. Getting the

right fit for a night guard is important, so talk to your dentist if the

guard seems to be affecting your bite or sleep.

Generic sports mouth guards aren't recommended to deal with teeth

grinding. Sports guards can actually cause additional discomfort

because they're not made to be worn overnight and are not built for

your unique mouth.

The guard method may not stop the root cause of bruxism, but it will

protect from the teeth-on-teeth grinding associated with enamel loss

and pain.

Change how you sleep

Practicing good sleep habits can help stop teeth grinding because it

creates a calm, restorative environment where tension is removed.

Part of creating a good sleeping environment is finding your ideal

sleep position.

There is some evidence of a link between teeth grinding and

sleeping on one's back, but more evidence is needed to say for sure.

If you're a grinder, try switching up your sleep position and see if you

find any relief from jaw pain or headache the next day. A new

position may help relax tense muscles.

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Change your diet As mentioned earlier, there may be some nutrition issues behind

bruxism that can be fixed with a few dietary changes.

Focus on getting foods or supplementing with B-complex vitamins,

Vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium. Many of these vitamins can be

found in vegetables and fruits, so make sure your diet has the

recommended five to nine servings of them. As a bonus, the

minerals and vitamins contained in these foods can help keep your

teeth strong and healthy, which may be needed if you're a long-time

teeth grinder.

Relax

You're more likely to clench and grind your teeth if you're stressed,

anxious, or angry. Many times, stress management techniques can

help alleviate teeth grinding. Different people employ different

techniques for stress reduction. Try these stress-relieving activities:

• meditation

• yoga

• taking a walk

• playing with a pet

• taking a bath

• exercising

• listening to music

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A simple deep breathing exercise can help: breathe in for 4 seconds,

hold for 5, and breathe out slowly for 6. Repeat this pattern a few

times for full effect.

It will help to avoid stimulants like caffeine right before bed. Besides

hampering sleep, stimulants can contribute to grinding.

If your bruxism is caused by extreme anxiety, medication or cognitive

behavioral therapy may be able to help. Talk to your doctor about the

possibilities.

Clenching during the day is somewhat easier to catch when it's

happening, but it's still a subconscious action. Along with relaxation

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practice, habit-reversal techniques may be helpful combating

daytime clenching. For example, pay attention to when you notice

yourself clenching and write down the time and what you were

doing. You may notice patterns of clenching at times of

concentration or stress. When you become aware of these

moments, practice relaxing your jaw muscles by opening your mouth

slightly or placing your tongue between your upper and lower teeth.

Stop Sleeping With Your Mobile Phone

Your bedroom is a place for restful sleep. Removing technology

including computers, TVs, and especially phones will create a

restorative environment and reduce nighttime stress that can lead to

teeth grinding.

High mobile phone use has been associated with disturbances in

sleep and symptoms of depression in both men and women. The

concept of being accessible at any hour is also associated with

depression and sleep problems.

With phones right next to us as we sleep, we’re never really

unconnected to the world. We’re conditioned to jump at the slightest

noise or vibration. For true relaxation and restorative sleep, eliminate

these distractions. Stop making grinding worse and remove your

phone from the bedroom. This is a simple way to help calm your

mind during sleep and can combat stress-related grinding.

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Ask Your Dentist If you think you may be grinding or clenching your teeth while

sleeping or during the day, see your dentist as soon as possible.

There are several treatment options and you can try a few to see

what works for you.

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Goldstein Dental Group, PLLC 23895 Novi Road | Novi | MI | 48375 https://goldsteindentalgroup.com

Telephone: (248) 374-2273

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Page 1 of 25 - goldsteindentalgroup.com€¦ · Properly aligned teeth can alleviate teeth grinding in many people. 4. Concentration Though sleeping bruxism is more common, many people