What do morning headaches, sore jaws, and sensitive teeth have in common? Like many people, you might assume they’re unrelated, but put together, they could be warning signs that you’re grinding your teeth and don’t even know it.
This condition, called bruxism, can happen when you’re awake or asleep. However, awake bruxism is usually less damaging since you’re more likely to notice the consequences, like jaw pain. On the other hand, sleep bruxers rarely realize they’re clenching and grinding until the harm to teeth, gums, and facial muscles has been done.
Because tens of millions of children and adults suffer from teeth grinding, this dental health disorder has been dubbed the “silent epidemic.” Those with bruxism can’t just treat the grinding — they must get to the root of the problem and deal with the cause of their teeth grinding to make it stop.
There are multiple possible reasons you, too, are grinding your teeth subconsciously. Here, we’ll share some of the top causes and how you can prevent this condition from affecting more harm to your body.
1. Stress and Anxiety
Tension is part of everyday life for most of us. Yet, without a healthy outlet, your stress and anxiety could be manifesting physically as grinding and clenching.
When you’re stressed, nervous, or anxious, your brain triggers a release of stress hormones like adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol into your body. These chemicals put you on high alert in fight-or-flight mode, even if you don’t realize it. To release them, you must learn how to soothe your mind or engage in physical activity.
Without those two main forms of stress hormone release, your brain will naturally find a way to reset these levels through behaviors like bruxing. This function is often referred to as hyperactivity.
Countering the teeth grinding and jaw clenching caused by excess stress is possible if you are active throughout the day and find ways to relieve tension before bedtime. Try yoga, meditation, a walk in nature, journaling, or listening to soothing music, and you may find that you fall and stay asleep more easily without bruxing. In the meantime, wearing a night guard from professionals like JS Dental Lab can prevent your condition from causing more damage to your body.
2. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by repeated breathing pauses while asleep. This condition can be dangerous or deadly, depending on the patient’s severity of symptoms.
Experts suggest that the pauses in breathing, called apneas, may trigger the muscles in the jaw to become active. This communication stirs the grinding and clenching of bruxing.
Many sleep apnea patients use special machines, mouth guards, or medication to help them rest. The downside of this assistance is that the muscles may still be active, yet the patient is in a deep sleep. For this and other reasons, sleep apnea-associated bruxism often results in chipped, cracked, or broken enamel.
3. Medications and Stimulants
In addition to stress hormones, other external forces stimulate the body and mind, and thus the jaw muscles. Studies show that certain medications and addictive substances can trigger those muscles to overwork themselves during sleep.
Specifically, these drugs are categorized by their role in interfering with the neurotransmitters and receptors in the central nervous system. Medications and substances that interfere with the secretion of neurotransmitters and how they work can cause bruxism behaviors.
These medications include dopamine antagonists such as haloperidol, serotonin inhibitors like fluoxetine and sertraline, and serotonin and norepinephrine inhibitors such as duloxetine. Barbiturates and other norepinephrine-dopamine inhibitors also fall into this category.
Substance abuse drugs, including alcohol, methamphetamine, and cocaine, make a person more likely to brux.
But just because you’re not on meds or taking drugs doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet. Other addictive substances like coffee and tobacco use can lead to bruxing.
4. Other Dental Issues
Other dental issues can cause bruxism due to misaligned teeth creating an uneven bite, leading to grinding as the jaw seeks a comfortable position. Missing or crooked teeth can cause the jaw to shift unnaturally, increasing the likelihood of grinding. Jaw disorders like TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) can lead to discomfort, prompting bruxism as a response to the pain. This dentist who does dental implants in Las Vegas NV, poorly fitting dental restorations such as crowns or fillings can alter bite alignment, contributing to teeth grinding. Addressing these underlying dental issues can help reduce or eliminate bruxism.
Knowing the Cause Can Lead to the Solution
The fact is that untreated bruxism can lead to moderate to severe damage to the rest of your body. While you treat the damage and try to prevent it from worsening, you should also work toward solving the reason behind your bruxing behaviors.
Your doctor may recommend treatment options such as medication, talk therapy (counseling), or sleep apnea testing. But the first line of defense for bruxing is almost always a professional, custom-made night guard. Talk to your doctor or dentist to find out how you can prevent further damage to your body by solving your bruxism behaviors.