Kiddipedia

Kiddipedia

Key takeaways:

  • Bruxism — or teeth grinding/clenching — can be bothersome but is manageable with psychological and pharmacological treatments.

  • If you’re experiencing symptoms, consult your dentist and primary healthcare provider.

What is Bruxism?

Teeth clenching or grinding often starts when you feel anxious or stressed. The action is involuntary and can occur day or night.

Bruxism is a condition involving abnormal teeth movements, such as grinding and clenching.
It’s defined as an oral habit of involuntary, rhythmic, or spasmodic gnashing of teeth that can lead to occlusal trauma (damage to tooth surfaces).

There are two types of bruxism:

  • Awake bruxism: occurs during the day, often linked to stress or life pressures.

  • Sleep bruxism: occurs while sleeping, considered a movement disorder involving teeth clenching or grinding.

Risk factors for bruxism

Bruxism risk factors fall into three main groups:
Pathological, demographic, and psychosocial.

Pathological factors

  • Reflux esophagitis (acid reflux)

  • Sleep apnea syndrome (breathing pauses during sleep)

  • Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (rare form of epilepsy)

Demographic factors

  • Female gender

  • Married individuals

  • Military service

  • Smoking, tobacco, alcohol

Psychosocial factors

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Social phobias

  • Emotional stress

Biological and neurological links

Studies show neurotransmitter system disorders play a role in bruxism.
Basal ganglia dysfunction affects jaw coordination, seen in conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Dopamine imbalance can disrupt muscle control, and L-dopa (a dopamine precursor) may reduce bruxism severity.

Psychological stress also contributes — depression, stress, and anxiety all increase the risk.

Bruxism in children and adolescents

Additional risk factors include:

  • Excessive media consumption

  • Poor diet

  • Noisy or bright sleeping environments

  • Difficulty falling asleep

  • Talking during sleep (somniloquy)

  • Respiratory diseases

  • Headaches

Prevention of bruxism

Bruxism can be managed through lifestyle changes and self-prevention:

  • Manage stress and anxiety: Try progressive muscle relaxation, warm baths, or light exercise.

  • Improve sleep quality: Avoid stimulants like coffee and tea before bedtime.

  • Promote sleep hygiene in children — reduce noise, dim lights, and limit screen time before bed.

  • Regular dental check-ups: Every six months to monitor jaw health.

    • Your dentist may prescribe an occlusal splint (mouthguard) to protect teeth.

Treatment for bruxism

Treating bruxism requires a multi-pronged approach.

1. Improve sleep quality

  • Use grounding sheets to help relaxation, reduce stress, and improve sleep.
    This may help reduce teeth clenching and grinding at night.

2. Physical therapy

  • Includes massage, moist heat, microwave laser, and electrotherapy.
    These methods relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and reduce jaw pain.

3. Psychological therapy

  • Psychotherapy or counselling can address stress and behavioral triggers.
    Most programs last 3–6 months.

  • Biofeedback therapy: Uses visual, audio, or vibration cues to help patients control jaw muscle tension and increase body awareness.

4. Contingent Electrical Stimulation (CES)

  • Low-level electrical stimulation is applied to jaw muscles during clenching.
    Helps reduce muscle activity, episode frequency, and bruxism severity.

5. Medication

When bruxism is severe, medication may be necessary:

  • Dopamine agonists

  • Anti-epileptic drugs

  • Non-benzodiazepine hypnotics

  • Anxiolytics

  • Buspirone

  • Botulinum toxin (Botox)

Botulinum toxin injections work by inhibiting acetylcholine release, temporarily paralysing jaw muscles, and reducing teeth grinding for up to 20 weeks.

In summary

Bruxism can result from stress, neurological dysfunction, or lifestyle habits, but it’s highly manageable.
With a combination of stress reduction, sleep improvement, therapy, regular dental check-ups, and medical treatment, most people can effectively control teeth clenching and grinding — improving both oral health and quality of life.

Resources:

  1. NIH. Risk factors for bruxism.
  2. NIH. Bruxism Management.
  3. ResearchGate. Bruxism Management: A Comprehensive Review.
  4. NIH. Pharmacotherapy for sleep bruxism.
  5. NIH. Psychic and occlusal factors in bruxers.
  6. NIH. Bruxism: a literature review.
  7. Semantic Scholar. The most commonly used methods of treatment for bruxism – a literature review.