Bruxism TMJ - Teeth Grinding and Jaw Grinding While You Sleep
Bruxism TMJ is a problem that can be quite painful as well as socially embarrassing. Below we will explain Bruxism, its symptoms and effective treatment.
What is this condition?
Simply put, Bruxism TMJ (is when you grind your teeth at night which is typically combined with the repeated clenching of your jaws, damaging your teeth and bite in the process. TMJ stands for TemporoMandibular Joint which connects the lower jaw to the skull and any misalignment in this area can cause a lot of discomfort. When a sporadic and/or mild grinding of teeth happens it is not a major problem. But when this activity is done involuntarily and repeatedly when asleep, it becomes a health and wellbeing issue. It doesn’t always happen during sleep, a number of “bruxers” grind or clench their teeth during the day, generally, this happens when they are stressed or tense.
How does one recognize Bruxism TMJ?
It might go undetected in many people. A sleeping partner or a parent or guardian may hear the grinding as it may be loud. It can wear away the surface of the teeth, and sometimes even crack or fracture the teeth. Because there is extra tension on the jaw you may experience headaches, neck pain, locking of the jaw, problems when opening the jaw and popping or clicking sounds while eating and/or chewing. These popping sounds are called TMJ "clicking" and they might not be painful. Changing the way a person bites may also be a signal of problems within the TMJ area. It is especially seen in those people who tend to be outwardly angry, confrontational, aggravated or aggressive and possess excessively competitive tendencies.
Side Effects of Bruxism TMJ
- Muscle spasms and inflammatory reactions.
- Due to teeth grinding, the teeth are ground down over time and are of different lengths or uneven which this damages the Temporomandibular joints.
- After a nap or upon waking you may feel Facial pain, as the continuous clenching and unclenching of jaws results in tightening or stressing the facial muscles.
- Frequently head aches, jaw, face and neck pains are felt due to the compression of nerves and blood vessels in the back of the jaw joint. This compression creates muscles spasms that many times pinching nerves resulting in your arms and hands going numb, this is referred to as TMJ numbness.
- It may block the airway contributing to obstructive sleep apnea.
Treatment
Treatment for Bruxism TMJ it should focus on eliminating the root cause. For mild airway obstructing conditions, oral or dental orthotics are typically suggested. If the jaw is misaligned, the Dentist will reposition the jaw using appropriate oral or dental appliances. To minimize abrasion of the surfaces of teeth due to grinding, mouth guards or splints are worn. Mouth guards or splints are helpful by preventing the bruxing patterns, understanding the degree of bruxing, preventing damage to the teeth and stabilizing the teeth.
Botox is an alternative method for reducing bruxism. A small amount is injected to the jaw muscles weakening them enough to prevent grinding and clenching but you will not lose the ability to chew, bite, eat or show facial expressions.