Bruxism in children and adults: why people grind their teeth in their sleep

Causes of Bruxism

Parents often wonder why their child grinds his teeth in his sleep. Unfortunately, no doctor knows the exact causes of bruxism in children. Experts correlate the occurrence of the disease with factors such as:

teething pain;
psychological factors: stress, anxiety, abnormal emotional development;
neurological factors: epilepsy, enuresis, etc.;
dental factors: malocclusion and dentition (extra teeth, adentia), improper orthodontic treatment (incorrectly selected braces, etc.);
dehydration of the body;
allergy;
helminthiasis (worms);
intoxication due to various diseases;
endocrine disorders, etc.

Prognosis and prevention

The prognosis for bruxism is favorable. Treatment is long-term and can take several months. In childhood, these symptoms require constant monitoring and often go away on their own. As a preventative measure, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules:

avoid stress and nervous tension;
normalize sleep and wakefulness;
do not eat immediately before bed, avoid active physical activity in the afternoon;
undergo regular preventive examinations at the dentist.

Bruxism is a common pathology. It manifests itself in no less than 40-50% of preschool children and 7-10% of adults. The main difficulty is to detect its symptoms, since they appear at night. Specialists from the Clinical Brain Institute will conduct a full diagnosis, taking into account the patient’s age and physiological condition, and select the most effective treatment regimen.

Dangerous symptoms: when should you see a doctor?

The question of when to start treatment for bruxism in children worries many parents.
As a rule, the disease goes away on its own, without any consequences, by the age of 12–13 years. This is due to the fact that by this period the formation of molars is completed. No treatment is required for this form of bruxism. However, there are times when the picture is not so rosy. You should contact your doctor immediately if your child exhibits the following symptoms:

headache and/or toothache in the morning;
rapid wear of teeth;
long and intense attacks at night (more than 10 seconds).

Complicated bruxism in children leads to quite unpleasant consequences, including gum disease and significant tooth wear.

What is bruxism and why is it dangerous for adults and children?

Unconscious clenching of teeth, as well as the appearance of grinding, is called bruxism in medical terms.
What is this - a bad habit or a signal warning of the occurrence of any diseases? Bruxism is not fatal, but can cause serious illness. The chewing movements characteristic of this phenomenon can usually be noticed during sleep, which causes greater stress on the temporomandibular joint. As a result, the enamel is damaged and the teeth become abraded and loosened. Also, teeth grinding has a negative effect on a person’s joints, muscles, and nervous system and interferes with the normal sleep of others.

Psychological help

The psyche of children and teenagers is unstable. Therefore, psychological factors, including anxiety, often lead to the development of bruxism.

In an anxious state, other symptoms may be observed: the habit of pulling and twisting hair, biting nails, etc.

The trigger for bruxism can be changes in a child’s life: moving, changing schools, parents’ divorce, various conflicts, etc. In such cases, a psychologist will help.

Botulinum therapy as one of the methods for treating hypertension and bruxism

Botulinum toxin type A, which is used in medicine and cosmetology, is able to relieve spasms and relax overstrained muscles, specifically reducing their activity or immobilizing them completely. But not forever, but only for a certain period of time - during this time the body adapts to new circumstances and stops overstraining a certain area. That is, the therapeutic effect for a diagnosis such as “bruxism” lasts for a long time, which is confirmed by numerous reviews from patients.

How it works?

Botulinum toxin type A is a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It blocks nerve impulses from the central nervous system to muscle fibers. That is, in fact, the drug paralyzes a certain muscle without transmitting motor commands from the brain to it.

In medicine and cosmetology, it is used in ultra-small and highly purified forms - that is, it is not poisonous or toxic to the body!

The drug is injected into clearly defined points in order to affect only a specific muscle and not affect the work of others. The dosages are harmless, and the blocking is reversible. Over time, the drug is completely eliminated from the body - usually this takes from 5 to 7 months. Gradually, neuromuscular conduction in the area is restored, and mobility returns to the muscle - but since it has “rested,” the spasmodic fibers are smoothed out, and the body adapts and normalizes the load.

Botulinum toxin only relieves hypertonicity and allows the muscle to relax. This is the basis of its well-known cosmetic effect - smoothing out wrinkles by blocking the work of facial muscles. That is, it is wrong to think that you can “pump yourself up” with botulinum toxin preparations - they do not in any way increase the volume of soft tissues.

To relieve excess tension in the masticatory muscles, we use the drug Botulax for intramuscular injection with 99% active substance content, thereby increasing the speed of onset and duration of the therapeutic effect. And thanks to the high degree of purification of the drug, the risk of adverse reactions is minimized. The dosage and course are selected by the doctor strictly individually!

What should the mother do and how to help the child?

You can help your child cope with teeth grinding at home. The task of parents is to relax the child, especially in the evening. Suitable for relieving tension:

massage;
exercise therapy;
correct daily routine;
walks in the open air;
drinking enough water;
exclusion from the diet of foods that excite the nervous system: chocolate, coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc.;
last meal – an hour before bedtime;
hot bath before bed;
refusal of active games, quiet activities in the evening: drawing, listening to lullabies, etc.

In addition, heart-to-heart conversations with your child can help. If the child does not speak out, he will go to bed with anxious thoughts. This will trigger an attack.

The following techniques will help reduce facial muscle tension:

heat compresses (including for pain in the morning);
chewing solid food;
giving up chewing gum.

Symptoms of hypertonicity of the masticatory muscles and bruxism

the chewing surfaces of the teeth become worn and flat (the cutting edges disappear),
tooth enamel chips, wedge-shaped defects appear, fillings fly out, teeth quickly decay, become loose, gums hurt,
you experience discomfort when opening your mouth, while eating or yawning - there are clicks, crunching sounds,
you or your loved ones notice that you are grinding your teeth - the characteristic grinding appears mainly at night (the so-called “night bruxism”), when it is difficult for a person to control himself during sleep,
cramps the jaw - you cannot fully open or close your mouth, the jaw seems to be blocked,
it is difficult for you to keep your mouth open for a long time, overexertion and pain appear during bruxism,
when talking or chewing, you feel that your facial muscles are “clogged”, tired,
when you are angry, tense or just working in concentration - your mouth is tightly closed, your lips are pursed, your teeth are closed, you are literally clenching your jaw,
there are problems with your bite – your teeth don’t fit together correctly, your jaws are misaligned relative to each other, causing you to bite your cheeks or tongue,
after concentrated work or under stress, you often have a pressing sensation in your temples, pain and dizziness,
you notice ringing and noise in your ears,
Over time, the lower half of your face has become visually square, heavy,
there are problems with posture - you are slouched, your lower back hurts, your neck is stiff, one shoulder is higher than the other.

If you find one or more signs in yourself, then this is a reason to consult a specialist for medical help. And the first step is a comprehensive diagnosis and search for the causes of hypertension.

We approach the treatment of bruxism comprehensively! We carry out in-depth diagnostics, find the exact cause of facial muscle spasm and eliminate it using advanced methods - safely and with high results.

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Bruxism in adults: causes

Bruxism also occurs in adults, and the disease appears in both sexes with equal frequency.

The question of why teeth grind in their sleep remains open: the exact reasons have not been established. Various factors can lead to the disease:

psychological: fatigue, stress, depression, anxiety neurosis, complexes, a special type of personality (vulnerable or hyperactive nature);
neurological: epilepsy, cervical osteochondrosis, lesions of the trigeminal nerve, apnea, somnambulism (sleepwalking), nightmares;
dental: malocclusion, jaw defects (over-row teeth, their absence or incorrect location), joint pathology, uncomfortable braces or dentures, incorrectly installed fillings, etc.;
hereditary factor;
other factors (not recognized by all doctors): acid reflux into the esophagus, helminths, snoring, impaired nasal breathing (enlarged adenoids, frequent rhinitis or deviated septum in the nose), lack of vitamins.

In 70% of cases, teeth grinding is the result of psychological problems.

Why do adults grind their teeth in their sleep?

Doctors identify several main causes of bruxism. Teeth grinding can be caused by pathologies such as:

Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, epilepsy;
a special type of insomnia with frequent awakenings;
light, shallow sleep;
overexcitation of the body, constant stress;
bad habit of biting nails, pencils and other objects
dental pathologies, for example, the absence of several teeth, malocclusion, dental growths.

Often a person begins to grind his teeth after taking amphetamines, alcohol and other psychotropic drugs. In rare cases, bruxism can be caused by drinking large amounts of coffee and energy drinks, which stimulate the nervous system.

Nighttime bruxism develops several times more often than daytime bruxism, because while awake, a person can control himself and suppress teeth grinding by force of will. In the encephalograms of patients with bruxism, doctors often detect disruptions in the limbic system, a part of the brain that is responsible for the formation of emotional reactions and human behavior; there is also a risk of loose teeth.

Some psychologists are convinced that only people with accumulated negative emotions suffer from teeth grinding. When a person goes to bed, consciousness recedes into the background, all muted negative emotions pour out, which is manifested by grinding of teeth, insomnia, or, conversely, an instant “falling” into deep sleep.

Symptoms of night creaking

Of course, teeth grinding at night is usually noticed by relatives or neighbors of a sick person. A dentist can also detect bruxism by examining your teeth. Indirect signs of night grinding are:

headache, discomfort in the jaw or joints after waking up;
chewing muscles visible from the side;
ear or sinus pain in the morning;
tearfulness, irritation of the eye mucosa;
unexpected jaw clicks;
discomfort in the neck, shoulders, back;
drowsiness during the day.

People suffering from bruxism complain of:

pain of various origins: headache, ear, tooth, face, jaw and neck;
increased sensitivity and mobility of teeth;
erasing enamel;
damage to teeth, crowns, etc.;
inflammatory processes of the gums;
insomnia, irritability, etc.

Symptoms worsen under stress. Most of these symptoms are short-term and correctable. However, if left untreated, there can be more serious consequences: facial asymmetry, hearing loss, severe wear and tear and broken teeth. In some cases, teeth are worn down almost to the roots.

With regular grinding at night, the mental health of the patient and those around him suffers. People don't get enough sleep and experience fatigue, anxiety and depression.

You can identify the symptoms of bruxism yourself by external examination in the mirror. Upon inspection you will find:

worn teeth, cracks and chips on them;
teeth marks on the cheeks and tongue;
change in bite;
damage to prostheses;
thickening of the jaw bones.

There may also be a crunching/clicking sound when moving the jaws. Sometimes patients have difficulty opening/closing their mouth.

Important! At rest, the teeth of the upper and lower jaws should not touch each other.

Treatment

Bruxism in adults does not go away on its own. A dentist can help determine whether the problem is serious and requires treatment.

The main goal of treating nocturnal bruxism is to relax the masticatory muscles. Moreover, the treatment method directly depends on the severity and cause of the disease. Accordingly, you may need the help of the following specialists:

dentist, orthodontist;
neurologist;
psychologist, psychotherapist.

The most effective dental treatment methods are:

plastic splints and individual night guards - linings that protect the dentition from abrasion;
Mandibular thrusters: also used for snoring;
teeth grinding: the method eliminates jaw defects;
prosthetics: the method is used for severe abrasion.

Medications may also be part of complex therapy:

muscle relaxants: administered before bed to relax facial muscles;
Botox: Injected in extreme cases to reduce the force of muscle contraction.

Since psychological factors most often lead to teeth grinding, you may need the help of a psychologist and psychotherapist. The psychotherapist will prescribe medications to normalize sleep and relieve anxiety, antidepressants.

Psychological treatment of bruxism in adults requires an individual approach. A psychologist will help identify and understand the conflict, and also stabilize the emotional state. Ultimately, the patient will learn to relax his jaws and get rid of the habit of clenching his teeth under stress.

The main task of the patient is relaxation. Methods such as:

massage, including face and neck;
light exercise, sports;
yoga, meditation;
evening walks;
listening to pleasant music or reading before bed;
baths with aromatic oils or herbs (chamomile, lemon balm, special mixtures, etc.);
soothing teas and mixtures;
exclusion from the evening diet of foods rich in caffeine (coffee, tea) and carbohydrates: this excites the nervous system;
giving up bad habits: smoking, alcohol;
full sleep.

To relieve muscle hypertonicity, you need to:

take medications with magnesium, potassium and B vitamins;
make warm compresses, herbal lotions, apply a heating pad (including at night);
chew solid food (apples, carrots, crackers);
give up chewing gum, do not chew a pencil/pen, or nails.

Try to relax your face and keep your jaws open while at rest. If you find it difficult to do this, use the following practice: purse your lips and hold the tip of your tongue between your teeth. Remember! Self-medication will not help with advanced or severe forms of bruxism.

Be sure to consult a dentist: the doctor will determine the causes of bruxism and prescribe adequate treatment. If medical recommendations are followed, the prognosis is favorable.

What procedures can a dentist not perform for bruxism?

Chronic teeth grinding often makes it impossible to carry out dental treatment: for some types it is an absolute contraindication, for others it is a relative one. It all depends on the severity of bruxism.

Treatment with braces.

For bruxism, dentists prefer to replace it with mouth guards. They are softer than braces and do not injure the mucous membranes, gums and tongue, which often happens if a person regularly clenches his jaw tightly. In addition, braces often break due to bruxism.

Installation of ceramic crowns

undesirable for “teeth grinding disease.” Despite the fact that modern dental ceramics are quite durable, they still cannot withstand the increased pressure that occurs during bruxism, and the ceramic crown is destroyed.

For implantation

Bruxism is considered an absolute contraindication, since the risk is too high that due to constant clenching of the teeth, the implant will become loose and fall out.

Restoration with lumineers, veneers, composites

It is ineffective for bruxism. It can be done, but it will not be possible to avoid mechanical damage to mini-prostheses. This has been recorded over many years of observations.

Main stages of treatment

Step 1. Preparation for the procedure

A doctor, for example, an implant surgeon or an orthopedist, may refer you to the botulinum therapy procedure for comprehensive preparation before installing implants or dentures. But you can also contact your dentist yourself with complaints about the symptoms of dental bruxism. On the recommendation of a doctor, after consultation and diagnosis, you can begin the injection course.

No complicated preparation is required. 2-3 days before the procedure, it is advisable to eliminate alcohol and reduce the consumption of tea, coffee and energy drinks, as well as stop taking blood thinning medications and antibiotics.

Experienced doctors who follow safety precautions! Our specialists have undergone appropriate training, are certified and accurately calculate the dosage of the drug. We carry out treatment carefully, safely and with results!

Step 2. Administration of the drug

The procedure itself takes on average 20 minutes. The doctor conducts a follow-up examination and marks points for drug administration.

The doctor takes the ampoule out of the refrigerator and opens the disposable syringe with the medicine in front of you - this way you will make sure that the storage conditions and sterility of the drug are observed. How many units of Botox are needed for bruxism? The specialist will calculate the dose individually, based on the severity of the symptoms, and divide it into 3-4 parts - that is, you will be given several small injections in different areas of the muscle. For injections, disposable sterile syringes with thin needles are used, so the procedure is almost painless. But for greater comfort, the injection site can be numbed.

Step 3. Rehabilitation period

The drug begins to act immediately, but gains maximum strength gradually - over about 10-14 days, during which the spasmodic area completely relaxes. At this time, it is undesirable to overheat and overcool the problem area: that is, you will have to limit physical activity, trips to the bathhouse and sauna, as well as to the pool.

It is also important in the first days to touch your face as little as possible and not to steam or massage the injection sites.

The effect of the drug lasts up to 7 months, but may weaken faster depending on individual characteristics. Your doctor will tell you at your follow-up appointment whether you need a repeat course.