Teeth can be a real grind

What causes people to grind their teeth? Some people may experience teeth grinding, or bruxism (bruchk-siz-uhm,) throughout their lives, others report teeth grinding more often or only when stressed. It can occur during the day or may happen only at night. A person may be unaware of it until pain in the teeth, mouth, face, neck, and/or jaw cause him or her to seek relief. The person’s partner may be the one who is aware of it first, waking up in the middle of the night to a noise that sounds like bones cracking. Dental health professionals are trained to recognize signs of grinding in the mouth, such as worn down teeth, so regular check-ups are important. Teeth grinding may cause temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) or make it worse.

In conditions such as autism, tooth grinding can be quite common and worrisome to caregivers. There is also evidence that taking certain medications, such as those for depression or gastrointestinal disorders, may cause or increase teeth grinding because of how these drugs affect the body. If it can be determined that teeth grinding starts upon taking a new medication, a doctor may switch the patient to another drug or reduce the dosage. But if teeth grinding develops over time, a medication may not be easily identified as the cause.

Treatment for teeth grinding typically involves alleviating pain and discomfort through the use of night guards, dental appliances, and pain relievers. Some people love night guards, others find them difficult to tolerate. It is important, however, to seek treatment in order to relieve pain and prevent damage to the teeth. Dental night guards can be bought in drug stores or dentists can make them custom-fit for patients.

When evaluating teeth grinding or pain, it is important to look at a person’s entire dental and medical history, including any medications. People being treated for mental health issues may not think to report to their doctor that they are having tooth, face or jaw pain. People often neglect to write their complete medical histories and medications on their dental forms. They may be embarrassed or figure that their medical treatment is not information that a dentist or dental hygienist needs. However, when it comes to medication and oral health, it can matter quite a bit.

Are you experiencing tooth grinding, or waking up with an aching face or jaw? Speak with your doctor or dentist to get the proper treatment you need.

This post is not intended to advise, diagnose, or treat any condition. If you are in pain, please see your dentist or doctor.

Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2934876/; Sutin AR, Terracciano A, Ferrucci L, Costa PT. Teeth Grinding: Is Emotional Stability related to Bruxism? Journal of research in personality. 2010;44(3):402-405. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2010.03.006. Accessed August 26, 2018

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tmj/symptoms-causes/syc-20350941; TMJ disorders. Patient care and health information, diseases and conditions. Mayo Clinic Web site. Accessed August 26, 2018

Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2014 Oct;13(10):1319-26. doi: 10.1517/14740338.2014.947262. Epub 2014 Sep 6.

Psychotropic drugs and bruxism. Falisi G¹, Rastelli C, Panti F, Maglione H, Quezada Arcega R.Accessed August 26,2018

Bad eyesight? Back Hurts? Your mouth may be to blame.

Italian researchers reviewed studies that show a relationship between the health of the mouth and the health of the eyes. The mouth and eyes share a complex nerve pathway that runs through the head and neck. This nerve connection is a main reason for the relationships they found.

The studies revealed a strong correlation between Class II malocclusion, known as overbite, and myopia, near-sightedness. People with this dental condition were more likely to be nearsighted than people with other types of crooked teeth or people with straight teeth. Astigmatism (overall blurry vision) was also found to be associated with crossbite - teeth that don't fit together properly when the mouth is closed.

Research also showed that the pupils of people with jaw pain, like that caused by TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorder, react differently to light than people without jaw pain. People with TMJ disorder were more likely to have poor posture and back problems, too. This is because the alignment of the jaw and muscles affects gaze and line of sight which can affect how people stand. Dry eye was also associated with TMJ difficulties.

So, in the future don't too surprised if your dentist asks you about your eyes and your eye doctor asks you about your teeth!

(The research review article was published in The Open Dental Journal, Volume 10, 2016, Oct. 31. Open Dent J. 2016 Aug 31;10:460-468. eCollection 2016.
Dental Occlusion and Ophthalmology: A Literature Review.
Marchili N1, Ortu E1, Pietropaoli D1, Cattaneo R1, Monaco A1.)

This blog is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical or dental condition. For good health - see your dentist and doctor regularly - your eye doctor, too!