The technical term for grinding of the teeth is “bruxism.” It is described by mayoclinic.com as a condition in which people “grind, gnash, or clench (their) teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth together during the day or grind them at night, which is called sleep bruxism.”
Teeth Grinding Can Cause other Problems
It might be a mild condition, but in more problematic cases bruxism can lead to “jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth, and other problems.” At the more severe level, teeth grinders can exert a pressure of up to 600 pounds per square inch between their rear molars.
According to an article ("Grinding your Teeth? It's Stress") by Jessica Yadegaran posted at MercuryNews.com (November 16, 2009), “It is estimated that 10 to 15 percent of adults grind their teeth, according to Matthew Messina, a Cleveland dentist and consumer adviser for the American Dental Association.”
Traditional Therapies for Teeth Grinding
The most likely treatment for bruxism is a plastic mouth guard to separate the upper and lower jaws and thereby prevent tooth damage. This, of course, doesn’t stop the teeth grinding, it just protects the teeth. Another approach is counselling to deal with the tension, stress, anger, or anxiety that may be causing the condition. Sometimes relaxation therapies help.
Now some dentists in Hull, England are trying out a new idea. It’s a device that delivers a small electrical shock when it senses grinding is about to start.
Electrical Impulse May Stop Bruxism
According to an article on the BBC News website (November 16, 2009), this new approach involves a device called Grindcare that was developed in Denmark: “a small electrode is placed on the temple which then monitors the movement of facial muscles. When it detects tension mounting, it delivers a tiny electrical impulse - or biofeedback.”
The sleeping patient is not aware of the impulse, but their muscles do relax in response. The trials are reported to have produced promising results: “The device is said to reduce grinding by as much as 80 percent within two months.”
Research Shows Teeth Grinding Associated with Sleep Apnea
New studies show that about a quarter of the people who have obstructive sleep apnea also exhibit bruxism. The research was presented at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Dr. Shyam Subramanian, of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, is quoted by sciencedaily.com (November 5, 2009) as saying: “Men typically have more severe sleep apnea, and perhaps may have more arousal responses, which may explain the higher prevalence of teeth grinding in men. Besides, men characteristically tend to report more symptoms of sleep apnea than women, such as snoring, loud grunting, and witnessed apneas.”
Dr. Subramanian adds that untreated sleep apnea is known to be a factor in depression and anxiety and these conditions can trigger teeth grinding. Also, the tiredness experienced by people with apnea often leads them to drink more caffeine, and “this has also been associated with a high risk of bruxism.”
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