Bruxism refers to excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching, and can take place while one is awake or sleeping. The evidence for complete treatment of bruxism is relatively low, hence most of the treatment methods available are aimed at decreasing the level of bruxism and reducing the damage done to one’s teeth and jaw joints.
Occlusal splints
Occlusal splints such as mouthguards are the most common and effective treatment involved in preventing damage to your teeth. Mouthguard helps to absorb the force during grinding so that your teeth’s enamel does not get worn down. It is commonly worn at night, nonetheless, it can also be worn in the day if one grinds while awake.
Behaviour modifications
You may be recommended to go on a soft diet and cut food into smaller pieces so as to reduce the amount of chewing, allowing your jaw muscles to rest. You may also be taught to constantly check that you breathe through your nose, close your lips while keeping your teeth apart. This will help relax the muscles involved in teeth grinding. If stress is the cause of bruxism, relaxation exercises like diaphragmatic breathing can be done.
Medications
Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory and/or anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed for a short period of time to ensure that you can rest better at night.
You are advised to share your concerns with your dental specialist / dentist so that he/she can share the treatment options suitable for you.
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