Bruxism is a term that refers to grinding or gnashing of the teeth during sleep or wakefulness, most often accompanied by a teeth grinding sensation in the head and neck. Sometimes, people who suffer from bruxism also experience excessive daytime headaches and neck pain. Bruxism is a sleep apnea disorder characterized by episodes of not breathing while sleeping or waking up. It can be challenging to diagnose at times due to its many forms. If you suffer from bruxism, ask your physician to refer you to a sleep centre or a best dentist Surprise AZ. Below are the various ways physicians and dentists do to treat bruxism.
Night Guards
Nightguards are devices worn at night to prevent your teeth from gnashing during sleep. They typically have a silicone rubber material and a hard plastic material. A guidewire with anchors helps you position the guard on the arch of your upper row of teeth. They also come in two styles: Full-mouth and partial-mouth. Full-mouth guards cover the whole arch, whereas partial guard covers only half or one row of your teeth. Nightguards are fastened at night, during sleep and can be left in place for three to four months.
Bone-anchored Devices
Also known as fixed dental devices or fixed appliances, these dental appliances are sturdy and fixed in place for some time, usually lasting a month. They are worn at night and left in place all day. They help prevent you from clenching your jaw while sleeping. Fixed devices work by constraining your jaw movements and keeping them still, which allows the muscles to relax and breathe normally during sleep. The bone-anchored appliances require the oral surgeon to grind down the surfaces of your teeth to ensure they fit properly into the device. Your jaw muscles will then be free from stress and can stay relaxed.
Nerve Blocks
A nerve block is a procedure where a doctor injects a local anaesthetic, called lidocaine, to block one or more of your nerves connected to your teeth or jaw muscles. The most common area for the injection is the inferior alveolar nerve, which is found at the bottom of your jaw near your wisdom teeth. Your family dentist surprise, AZ will numb your gums with a cold instrument before injecting the anaesthetic into the nerve to relax it and prevent teeth grinding or clenching while you sleep. The drug will last up to six hours and may cause numbness and tingling of the lips and tongue, as well as temporary changes to taste. However, these side effects are rare. Other parts of your jaw can also be injected with lidocaine if necessary. A local anaesthetic will sometimes be combined with a steroid medication, which can help reduce inflammation and swelling in your jaw for between two and eight weeks.
Tongue Depressor
This device uses a protrusion from the side of your jaw to hold your tongue in place during sleep. You can wear it at night with a strap around your head or with a headband to keep it in place all day. The device is placed along the bone connecting your lower teeth and jawbones. It locks three movable bars into place against the bone, increasing pressure on your tongue that prevents its movement excessively. It has been used for many years as a treatment for tongue thrusting and snoring by holding the tongue still during sleep.
Medicine
Someone who grinds their teeth excessively during sleep, gnashing their teeth from side to side, may need medication to relieve excessive teeth grinding at night. There are many types of pain relievers that can be used for this purpose. Your physician may also recommend a mild dosage of an antidepressant or anticonvulsant to lessen the tension in your jaw muscles and reduce gnashing during sleep. Some medications have been shown to reduce muscle tension and alleviate bruxism in some people. However, you should consult a doctor before taking any medications that a physician or cosmetic dentist surprise did not prescribe to avoid severe health conditions.
Relaxation Techniques
There are a variety of relaxation techniques that can help reduce muscle tension and the gnashing of your teeth during sleep. They may involve breathing techniques, massage, or visualization. You can also use a device that makes your jaw muscles relaxed by applying gentle pressure to the sides of your jaw. Relaxation techniques can help you re-learn how to relax your jaw flexors and extensors, which are divided into groups on the sides of your jaw. These muscle groups are responsible for moving or relaxing your jaw during different parts of the day. By releasing some of up to these muscle groups, you give them more time to rest between activities, reducing stress on your muscles during sleep.
Biofeedback and Psychotherapy
Biofeedback and psychotherapy can help you to learn how to relax your jaw and reduce muscle tension. These methods may be used alone or in combination with relaxation techniques, medicine or surgery. Biofeedback is a technique that measures the electrical activity in your muscles and helps you determine the level of activity and how it changes over time. This technique can show you if your muscles are becoming tense or relaxed as you try to change them from extremes of movement, such as from clenching your back teeth together tightly.
Conclusion
Bruxism is a disorder that can cause a lot of harm to your teeth and jaw muscles. If you think that you experience symptoms of bruxism, it is essential to see a dentist or physician, as there are several ways to treat bruxism. A dentist can fit you with a brace to prevent teeth grinding and address other symptoms such as jaw joint pain. If you grind your teeth at night, there are several dental appliances and medications that help prevent teeth grinding. If you grind your teeth during sleep and cannot control the habit, it is vital to see a dentist for treatment options to prevent any damage from occurring.