Bruxism and teeth clenching are the most common oral habits, yet are grossly under recognized and under treated in tens of millions of Americans
MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Most sources believe approximately 90 million Americans suffer from bruxism. About 18 million of those are destructive bruxers, but only about four million are aware of how damaging their habit can be to their appearances.
Bruxism, or the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, is a silent epidemic currently plaguing the nation. The American Dental Association reports up to 95 percent of Americans suffer from bruxism at some point in their lives. Adults ages 25+ are most likely to experience bruxism. Researchers believe the tensions of daily life - stress, anxiety and depression - are at the root of grinding. Grinding can also be caused by physical conditions, such as abnormally aligned, missing or crooked teeth. During the day bruxing is often characterized by chewing on objects, such as pencils and fingernails or the inside of the cheek; at night it is even more common and inflicts more damage.
"With no food to absorb the impact and no consciousness to exert control, nocturnal teeth grinding is powerful enough to crack a walnut," said Dr. Noshir Mehta, professor and chairman of the Department of General Dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. "Grinding can exert up to ten times the pressure on teeth and can range as high as 3,000 psi."
Bruxing can cause serious problems, including receding gums and can cause teeth to crack, fracture, snap off, and wear down to nearly the gum line. Teeth grinders often experience dull headaches, toothaches, sore or tired facial muscles, or clicking or popping of the jaw. Many also find their teeth to be extra sensitive to hot and cold conditions. Many people learn that they grind their teeth from their sleeping partners, or because they are told by their dentist or hygienist when they recognize this damage.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, have also been cited as a major cause of bruxing. Drugs such as Fluxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft) and paroxetine (Paxil), taken by tens of millions of people, can cause inner stimulation leading and agitation, which commonly cause bruxism. Approximately one quarter of all young children also grind their teeth. However, they tend to lose the habit after their permanent teeth come in.
A nightguard or biteplate can help prevent cumulative damage from grinding. Lifestyle changes can also help relieve physical and mental stress. Small changes such as listening to peaceful music, reading a book or taking a warm bath before going to sleep help ease the mind. Yoga and personal relaxation techniques, individual to every person, can also help relieve stress.
Every year, dentists prescribe approximately 3.6 million splints including nightguards, biteguards, occlusal splints and biteplates. It is important for these products to fit each individual's teeth and mouth to encourage the correct bite, so muscles can relax and will no longer trigger bruxing. Most over-the-counter products are nearly impossible to fit and professional guards typically cost upwards of $300.
More affordable and easy-to-use options are available. NightGuard, a new product from DenTek Oral Care, eliminates the guessing of size and the frustration of one size fits all by allowing bruxers to customize their own nightguards at home. It has heat-moldable molar pads and anterior flaps, trimming guides that allow it to fit any jaw type or size. NightGuard offers full occlusion, which protects all teeth from the effects of grinding.
DenTek NightGuard retails at Wal-Mart, CVS and other major retailers. For more information on DenTek, readers can visit www.usdentek.com.