Is nighttime bruxism an "invisible tooth killer"? You must know these things!

Do you often wake up in the morning with sore cheeks and numb teeth? Or do your family members complain that you make a "crunching" sound when you grind your teeth while sleeping? Yongzhou Lingling District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital reminds you: Be careful! This may be caused by **nocturnal teeth grinding (bruxism)**!

1. Five major hazards of nighttime teeth grinding

Tooth wear: Tooth enamel is "worn thin", teeth become shorter, edges are damaged, and even tooth sensitivity may occur.

Temporomandibular joint disorder: pain when opening the mouth, difficulty chewing, and in severe cases, even yawning will make a "cracking" sound.

Changes in periodontal tissue: loose teeth and even nodular hyperplasia of the labial and buccal alveolar bones.

Fatigue or hypertrophy of the masticatory muscles: chewing in the morning may make you feel tired or even painful; in the long run, it may also cause a "square face".

Affecting restorations: Porcelain teeth and dental implants may also be "worn out"!

For asymptomatic healthy individuals, bruxism may just be a behavioral manifestation and cannot be called a disease. However, for patients with severe bruxism, active treatment measures are needed.

2. Why do you grind your teeth at night?

1. Stress and anxiety: Emotional tension is the number one culprit!

2. Occlusal interference: uneven teeth and ill-fitting dentures.

3. Bad habits: drinking, smoking, and drinking a lot of coffee before going to bed.

4. Gastrointestinal dysfunction: Patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction or gastroesophageal reflux, including overeating at dinner or eating a lot before going to bed, may also cause nocturnal bruxism.

5. Other causes: intestinal parasites, unbalanced nutrition, lack of vitamins or certain trace elements. In addition, genetic factors are also related to bruxism.

3. Action Guide for Saving Teeth

Because the exact pathogenesis of bruxism is not fully understood, there is currently no recognized specific treatment for bruxism. Therefore, bruxism is mainly treated with protective symptomatic treatment to prevent the damage caused by bruxism.

Emergency Relief:

✅Apply hot compress to the masseter muscles before going to bed to relax the muscles;

✅Avoid excitement before going to bed (play less with your phone, eat less stimulating food);

✅Use nighttime teeth grinding pads (need to be professionally customized, don’t buy “three-no products” online!).

Long-term solutions:

Manage stress: meditation, exercise, psychological counseling;

Correction of teeth: orthodontics or adjustment of the high point of bite;

See a doctor for investigation: Check for parasites or nervous system problems and treat with medication.

Don’t take nighttime teeth grinding lightly! Early detection and early intervention, protecting teeth is protecting the health of the whole body~

Forward this to someone who often stays up late/is prone to anxiety, and let’s pay attention to “Silent Sleep” together tonight!

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Jiang Yunlin, Yongzhou Lingling District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital

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(Edited by Wx)