Bruxism...Teeth Grinding and Clenching

One in three people suffer from bruxism. Untreated, bruxism can lead to facial pain and teeth damage. People unintentionally bite down hard at inappropriate time such as in their sleep or while in deep concentration. Bruxism may be more noticeable during time of stress, anger or pain. Personality types may also be associated with bruxism such as highly competitive or agressive people.

Bruxism is often undiagnosed until it's too late because people don't realize they have the habit. Physical signs of bruxism may indicate that the habit has been ongoing for a prolonged period of time. Therapy may be simply becoming aware of the problem and changing behavior. For some people, a plastic mouth appliance is needed to absorb the force of biting. This appliance, commonly known as a nightguard, is usually worn during sleep. It can prevent future damage to the teeth and helps change the patient's destructive behavior. Biofeedback is another method used on daytime grinders by using electronic instruments to measure muscle activity and to teach patients how to reduce muscle activity when the biting force becomes too great.

What are the signs of bruxism?

- Tips of the teeth look flat

- Extreme sensitivity due to the inside of the tooth being exposed from grinding

- Jaw pain due to popping and clicking of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

- Tongue and cheek indentations

Damaging Effects of Dental Plaque

Dental plaque is biofilm (usually colorless) that builds up on the teeth. If not removed regularly, it can lead to dental cavities or periodontal problems (such as gingivitis). Microorganisms present in dental plaque are all naturally present in the oral cavity, and are normally harmless. However, failure to remove plaque by regular tooth brushing means that they are allowed to build up in a thick layer. Those microorganisms nearest the tooth surface convert to anaerobic respiration; it is in this state that they start to produce acids.

Acids released from dental plaque lead to demineralization of the adjacent tooth surface, and consequently to dental caries. Saliva is also unable to penetrate the build-up of plaque and thus cannot act to neutralize the acid produced by the bacteria and remineralize the tooth surface.
They also cause irritation of the gums around the teeth that could lead to gingivitis, periodontal disease and tooth loss. Plaque build up can also become mineralized and form calculus (tartar).

Frequency of brushing and flossing with good technique is important, because the nature (i.e., composition) of the microorganisms change as the plaque ages. Therefore, plaque which is 12 hours old for example is much less damaging than plaque which has not been removed in days.

Mouthwash use is also beneficial in conjunction with regular brushing to combat dental plaque. Antiseptic and anti-plaque mouth rinse claims to kill the bacteria that cause plaque, gingivitis, and halitosis. Anti-cavity mouthwash contains fluoride, protecting against tooth decay.