This is something many people do at night, which is accelerating the aging of teeth! It may also make you uglier!

Many people have had the experience of hearing the "clicking" sound of someone around them grinding their teeth in the middle of the night, especially when it is quiet at night, and it may even feel a bit creepy. Some children will suddenly make the sound of grinding their teeth when they are sleeping late at night, and the elders will say, "The child has roundworms in his stomach and needs to take anthelmintics."

But what is the truth? What is teeth grinding and how can it be solved?

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There may be many reasons

Bruxism is a common symptom. Because it often occurs after sleep at night, it is also called night bruxism. The incidence of bruxism in the general population is about 8% to 31%, and it is more common in children. According to statistics, one in every five children under the age of 11 may have night bruxism.

However, the medical community has not yet reached a clear conclusion on its exact cause. It is generally believed that the occurrence of bruxism is related to a variety of physiological and psychological factors.

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First of all, emotional state has an important influence on the occurrence of bruxism. Studies have shown that tense emotions such as anxiety, anger, and increased stress can easily lead to increased bruxism at night. Especially in individuals with greater mood swings, the frequency and intensity of bruxism may be higher. In addition, some aggressive or competitive personality types are also considered to be more prone to bruxism. In children, psychological factors such as emotional anxiety and depression may also induce or aggravate bruxism. Children with severe bruxism, especially those with obvious anxiety symptoms, may consider seeking medical attention to relieve emotional stress.

Secondly, in addition to emotional factors, age is also a significant influencing factor.

Bruxism is common in young children, and the frequency and intensity of bruxism tend to decrease or even disappear with age. Therefore, for many children with mild bruxism, this phenomenon may not require special intervention, and parents only need to observe regularly.

In addition, certain medications and lifestyle habits also affect the occurrence of bruxism. Some psychiatric drugs such as antidepressants may cause bruxism. At the same time, smoking, drinking, and excessive intake of caffeine and other beverages may also increase the risk of the disease. For individuals who have long-term use of these drugs or habits, appropriate adjustments to medications and dietary habits may improve the condition.

Thirdly, bruxism also has a certain genetic tendency. In some families, bruxism symptoms show obvious clustering. In addition, although there is controversy about the relationship between malocclusion and bruxism, if an individual does have obvious malocclusion or disordered bite, orthodontic treatment will not only help improve the health and function of the teeth, but may also alleviate the symptoms of bruxism to a certain extent. In addition to nocturnal bruxism, there are many other forms of bruxism, such as unconsciously clenching the teeth while awake and a mixed pattern that includes these two states.

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The impact is really huge

Normally, when people are at rest, their upper and lower teeth are slightly apart, rather than in close contact, so that the teeth can get a proper rest when not chewing. However, bruxism patients will continue to over-bite at night or unconsciously, causing the teeth to be subjected to friction and pressure when it is not necessary.

Long-term bruxism will wear away the enamel on the surface of the teeth. If the enamel is worn thin or even worn through, the sensitive dentin or pulp will be exposed, which may cause tooth sensitivity and soreness. In severe cases, it may cause pain, affecting daily eating and quality of life.

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In addition, bruxism may cause fatigue of the chewing muscles (in layman's terms, it makes your face more and more square) and damage to the temporomandibular joint.

The red circle is the temporomandibular joint injury. The picture is copyrighted by the library. Reprinting and using it may cause copyright disputes

If not intervened in time, bruxism may lead to more serious problems, such as chewing pain in the joints, limited mouth opening, and even symptoms such as joint popping, which seriously affect the patient's chewing function and living comfort.

Wearing a bite pad

An effective tooth protection measure

Treatment for bruxism can be divided into several situations:

Mild bruxism usually does not require treatment (and cannot be treated), especially in children, and may disappear naturally as they grow older, their teeth erupt, and their bite relationships gradually become established and stable. If bruxism occurs in adults, if there is no obvious wear on the teeth themselves and no pain, you can choose to observe it.

However, if bruxism has affected dental health (such as severe wear causing tooth sensitivity and toothache) or caused discomfort in the chewing muscles and joints, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.

In terms of treatment, since there is no clear cause, symptomatic treatment is adopted in most cases, such as resin filling and crown protection for severely worn teeth.

For those who have severe bruxism, wearing a bite pad while sleeping at night is also an effective protective measure, and is currently the most commonly used symptomatic treatment and prevention solution. It is generally made of soft silicone and is a bit like a transparent retainer. It can effectively separate the upper and lower teeth, reduce direct wear between teeth, and relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joint.

Nighttime teeth grinding bite pad. Copyright image library, reprinting and use may cause copyright disputes

However, the teeth grinding pad does not reduce the tendency of teeth grinding, but it stops the teeth from rubbing against each other, and instead makes the teeth rub against the silicone. Therefore, the teeth grinding pad itself is also easy to wear through. Usually, the teeth grinding pad is likely to be damaged after regular wear for six months to a year, and it needs to be remade.

Daily protection tips

1

Relax and unwind

Maintain a balance between life and work, and avoid excessive stress that affects sleep quality. You can try to listen to light music, read, and other relaxing methods before going to bed to help your body and mind calm down and fall asleep.

2

Reduce stimulant intake

Try to reduce the intake of tobacco, alcohol and caffeinated beverages, especially avoid drinking food or drinks containing stimulating ingredients before going to bed to avoid aggravating the symptoms of bruxism.

3

Develop a good work and rest routine

Avoid strenuous activities before going to bed, such as fitness, aerobics, etc., so as not to over-activate the nervous system and affect the natural relaxation state at night.

References

[1]Beddis, Hannah, Michael Pemberton, and Stephen Davies. "Sleepbruxism: an overview for clinicians." Britishdentaljournal225.6(2018):497-501.

[2] Bulanda, Sylwia, et al. "Sleepbruxisminchildren: etiology, diagnosis, and treatment—aliterature review." International journal of environmental research and public health 18.18 (2021): 9544.

Planning and production

Author: He Jianliang, Chief Physician of General Dentistry, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

Reviewer: Wu Bin, deputy chief physician of the Department of Stomatology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University