Treatment of bruxism
Definition
Le bruxisme est un trouble caractérisé par le grincement ou le serrage involontaire des dents de manière inconsciente essentiellement durant la nuit mais aussi parfois pendant la journée.
Le bruxisme est multi-factoriel, avec des causes variées, de nature physique et/ou psychologique :
- Stress et anxiété : facteur majeur pour le brunisse diurne
- Trouble du sommeil : l’apnée du sommeil lui est alors fréquemment associé
- Malocclusion dentaire : mauvais alignement des dents
- Facteurs neurologiques : certains médicaments et maladies neurologiques prédisposent à ce mécanisme
The symptoms
Bruxism is identified by several effects:
- Audible teeth grinding during sleep by the spouse
- Pain on waking or stiffness of the jaw
- Premature wear of the teeth or even spontaneous dental fractures.
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Chronic headaches
- Temporomandibular joint disorder, namely pain when opening and/or closing the jaws
Treatments
They are of several kinds:
- Creation of a custom-made professional night splint to prevent tooth wear and reposition the jaw
- Behavioural approach to managing stress and learning to relax the jaw
- Dental correction/orthodontics to treat alignment problems
Prevention
The therapies applied to treat bruxism aim to reduce pain, prevent wear and tear of the teeth and permanent damage to the jaw and ultimately reduce teeth grinding.
At the same time, it is advisable to:
- Avoid consuming stimulants such as alcohol or caffeine before going to bed
- Promote healthy sleeping habits and relaxation techniques.
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