Sleep Fundamentals || B is for Bruxism
Sleep Fundamentals: What is Bruxism?
This post first appeared October 22, 2014 and was updated on July 10, 2017.
BRUXISM
Also known as sleep bruxism, this is a sleep disorder characterized by clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth during sleep. Bruxism is common in adolescents and, in many cases, tends to decrease with age.*
Dentists are usually the first to discover that a patient has bruxism, though a patient’s bed partner may also complain about the noise that comes from teeth grinding while asleep.
Causes of bruxism
- an extreme manifestation of otherwise normal behavioral activity taking place during sleep
- a coping or personality style reflective of task-oriented subjects that leads to jaw grinding during sleep
- imbalances in neurotransmitter activities which exacerbate teeth grinding and jaw muscle contraction during sleep
- genetics or familial predisposition to bruxism
- an association with sleep breathing disorders like sleep apnea
- an association with a preexisting neurological movement disorder like Parkinson’s or Tourette’s
- drug factors (abuse of chemical substances or as side effects of prescribed medications)
- certain clinically diagnosed mental health problems like dementia
Side effects of bruxism
- headaches in the morning
- facial pain
- sinus pain
- earache
- ringing ears
- muscle soreness in the jaw
- stiff neck and shoulder muscles
- tooth loosening
- fractured teeth and damaged fillings
- enamel loss
- receding or inflamed gums
- tongue scalloping
- poor sleep quality
Treatments for bruxism
- behavioral therapies
- oral/dental appliances
- relaxation therapies
- medications (though there are side effects to consider)
2 links related to bruxism in SleepyHeadCentral:
- The calming powers of magnesium
- Upper airway resistance. It’s a thing. And it matters.
- Sleep Disorders 101
Links to learn more:
- If you grind your teeth at night, you might have sleep apnea || American Sleep Apnea Association
- Sleep Disorder Classifications || American Sleep Apnea Association
- 7 Sleep Myths That Are Killing You (Podcast 28): Interview with Dr. Mark Burhenne || Dr. Steven Park
Call our Sleep Health Hotline
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