Teeth Grinding

Bruxism

Bruxism or tooth grinding, is excessive clenching the upper and lower jaw or grinding the teeth whether asleep or awake. This can lead to facial pain and permanent damage to teeth and jaw joints. It occurs in about 20% of adults while awake and 8% during sleep, with up to 18% in children. It’s most common during the early part of the night’s sleep. The grinding forces during sleep can be much stronger than when awake, sometimes up to six times greater.

Symptoms

morning headaches and neck stiffness
jaw muscle pain or tightness
teeth clenching upon waking
temporomandibular joint pain and clicking
chronic facial pain
ear discomfort or ringing
increased tooth sensitivity especially in the morning
teeth wear, chipping or fractures
fatigue in the jaw muscles when chewing
rhythmic crunching or grating sounds

Treatment

Stress management, relaxation techniques and jaw exercises and massages can help reduce symptoms of grinding and relax jaw muscles.

A custom molded plastic mouth appliance, known as an occlusal splint or night guard, is made to absorb the force of the destructive grinding or clenching behaviour, preventing additional dental damage such as teeth wear, broken fillings or cracked teeth.

Using the splint

Follow the instructions of your dentist, typically used at night, although some patients may need to wear it during the day if experiencing acute pain. Avoid using it while eating.

Initially, you may experience:

The splint feeling tight on your teeth, especially the front teeth, upon insertion.
Increased salivation.
A sensation that your teeth do not fit together normally when the splint is removed.

These experiences are normal and usually resolve within a short time. Most patients adapt to wearing a splint within about a month.

Caring for your splint

Daily Care: after use, rinse with cold water (avoid hot water) and store in box given.
Fit & Adjustment: wear the splint as advised by your dentist. Failure to do so may result in your splint not fitting and requiring a new splint to be made.
Cleaning: soak in Sterident in cold water for an hour weekly. Staining over the years is normal, but avoid using toothpaste as it can wear away the splint, causing a loose fit.
Service Life: a splint, designed to protect your teeth, typically lasts 3 to 5 years. It’s preferable to wear out a splint than risk damage to your own teeth

Ongoing use of your splint

After the initial adjustments, your splint will require periodic checks and potential adjustments. Typically, this can be done in your regular check-up appointments. Remember to bring your splint to all dental visits, as any future dental procedures, such as fillings or crowns, may necessitate adjustments to the splint.

