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BRUXISM: A condition relating to the grinding or gnashing of the opposing rows of upper and lower molar teeth.

Bruxism affects 8% to 21% of the population of the U.S. and experts cite it as being the third most common form of sleep disorder along with snoring and talking in one's sleep.

People may be unaware that they are suffering from the condition and will often leave diagnosis to such a time that it has developed into a bad habit, producing symptoms that have progressively become more noticeable and begun to affect the quality of life. Unfortunately, by the time the patient realizes the problem and starts to investigate a cure, a lot of the damage has become irreversible.

SYMPTOMS:

Before proper treatment for the condition can be implemented it would be helpful to look at a number of conditions that would indicate that Bruxism is present. These include:

1. Worn or loose teeth.
2. Receding gums.
3. Chipping to the tooth enamel.
4. Periodontal pockets
5. The development of bony ridges (tori)
6. An aching pain to the face and muscles.
7. Sensitized teeth to hot or cold
8. Tense feeling to the face when waking in the morning.
9. Headaches
10. Dislocation of the jaw.
11. A popping or clicking in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
12. Soreness to the inside of the mouth

Symptoms of Bruxism can vary with each patient depending on their age, health and medical history. Depending on the extent of the condition and in consideration to the patient's wishes there are a number of treatments available:

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING:

It may be useful for some people to benefit from some type of counseling to help them manage their stress levels better; this could be in the form of mediation and exercise. Parents, who have children with problems, will be given advice on how to settle their children at night by encouraging relaxation techniques, such as reading a soothing book, just before bedtime.

DENTAL THERAPY

A custom made mouth guard or splint can be made by the dentist. Many people purchase over the counter products which don't work as well, the reason being that they don't fit exactly to the contours of the mouth and can become loose whilst the patient is asleep.

If the dentist thinks it is necessary he will realign teeth that are not straight. This may mean expensive dental work as the chewing area of the teeth may have to be reshaped with the use of crowns and caps.

CHANGING LONG TERM HABITS:

Sometimes all it may take is changing the habit in which a person holds the position of the mouth and

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