If you’ve been told you’re a teeth grinder, you may wonder if orthodontic treatment can save your teeth from their nightly assault. Braces and Invisalign can help you reduce or stop grinding at night if your teeth or jaw are misaligned. Straightening and aligning teeth may be an excellent permanent strategy for curing teeth grinding however the issue is quite complex and the way your teeth are arranged may only play a minor part in predisposing you to grinding.
What is Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)?
Teeth grinding (bruxism) is the clenching or grinding of teeth that occurs most commonly during sleep at night but may occur whilst awake. Occasional teeth grinding doesn’t cause any harm, but regular grinding can cause significant tooth damage. Bruxism is a complex problem and people with abnormal bites, missing or crooked teeth may be more prone to grinding than people with normal bites.
Researchers seem to agree that many people are able to adapt their chewing and functional activities to these abnormal bites but those people who do not have the ability to adapt are more prone to grinding. Stress, anxiety and sleep disorders are some of the main contributing factors leading to teeth grinding.
There’s a link between some medications for depression, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease and bruxism.
People with sleep apnea are more likely to grind their teeth at night. Sleep apnea is a complex problem that may be related to obstruction of the airway and/or problems with the sensors in your body that measure the levels of oxygen in the blood. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids may obstruct breathing but in adults, increased body mass with excess tissue in the neck and airway block airflow when breathing, causing a pause between breaths and a reduction in oxygen in the blood. The brain tries to compensate for the pauses by signaling the jaw to clench and grind and protrude the jaw to hold the airway open.
The airway is also held open by normal muscle activity in the muscle surrounding the airway. A loss of tone in the airway may be encountered with increased age, clinical depression and factors such as increased alcohol intake. If you suspect that you have sleep apnea, it is probably wise to consider a consultation with a specialist sleep physician because there are many serious secondary health effects of sleep apnea.
Many people aren’t aware that they grind their teeth in their sleep until a dentist notices signs of wear or their partner tells them. Others may suffer the symptoms and still not know teeth grinding is to blame. They may experience a constant, dull headache or sore jaw but not know the cause.
The Problem with Bruxism
Chronic grinding can cause a range of dental problems including enamel wear, flattening and wear of a tooth’s surface, teeth to move out of alignment, tooth sensitivity, wearing down, broken and lost teeth after being loosened. Moreover, people with sleep apnea and increased body mass (BMI) may also have gastric reflux where acid from the stomach is regurgitated whilst asleep. The combination of the acid dissolving the teeth and the bruxism is a potent recipe for rapid tooth surface loss.
For some people, it’s not just their teeth that endure the effects of grinding, their tongue, and inside of their cheeks also suffer. Aching teeth, jaw and ear pain are common after a night of teeth grinding. Sufferers may also feel muscle aching and stiffness in the jaw, face and temples.
After years of grinding, people may require major dental work to fix the damage and save teeth. Damaged teeth may need treating with a crown, bridge, implant, or even dentures and often teeth olive as a consequence of the wear and orthodontics is required to return the teeth to their original positions before restoring the lost tooth substance. It’s the old story of getting the foundations right before building the house. Without treatment, teeth can loosen or fall out.
Grinding may also affect the jaw, with temporomandibular disorders (TMJ and TMD) causing major problems.
How to Prevent Teeth Grinding
There are some steps you can take to reduce the chance you’ll grind your teeth at night including:
- Stress is a major cause of teeth grinding, so anything you can do to reduce your stress levels can reduce your grinding
- Alcohol can predispose you to grinding, so reducing your consumption can help
- Reduce your consumption of foods and drinks containing caffeine
- Be aware of clenching your jaw during the day and stop yourself from doing it. Clenching while awake makes it even harder to break the habit during sleep.
- Mental concentration can increase grinding, so try to switch off and relax before falling asleep.
- Illness or dehydration can cause the body to grind, so go to bed well-hydrated
- Orthodontic treatment can help with abnormal arrangements of teeth (crooked teeth, overbite, under-bite, cross-bite) that will make it easier for you to adapt to the bite relationship.
A dentist or orthodontist can recognize the signs of grinding by examining teeth.
Braces are useful in fixing underlying bite problems that predispose to bruxism and make it easier for you to adapt. Bite alignment and straight teeth mean teeth fit together better within the jaw and eliminates the urge to grind the teeth.
In the early days of wearing braces, teeth grinding can worsen while your mouth adjusts. If you’re concerned with the severity of your teeth grinding and worried it may damage your teeth or braces, speak to your orthodontist about your concerns. Once the teeth shift into alignment, the grinding usually decreases and hopefully stops once teeth are completely aligned.
We can treat both adults and children with braces to help with their teeth grinding. Some people don’t experience a problem with teeth grinding until adulthood.
All types of braces are suitable for treating bruxism. Patients may choose the traditional metal braces or the more aesthetic options of clear braces or lingual (inside) braces.
After your braces are off, you’ll need to wear your clear retainers full time at first and then nightly to hold your teeth in their new position. The clear aligners (retainers) can act as a barrier to protect your teeth just in case you still grind your teeth. Some people continue to grind their teeth even when the bite is corrected and a customized strategy needs to be developed including management of stress however many patients are provided with a plastic ”splint” or guard that is worn to bed to reduce the impact of the grinding on the teeth. (see below)
Some people choose to treat their teeth grinding problem with clear aligners, called Invisalign.
Invisalign patients use a series of trays that make slight adjustments to shift their teeth to the desired position. Approximately every two weeks, patients start on the next set of trays to continue the straightening process. Most Invisalign treatments take 12 -18 months to complete. Patients wear the last set of trays as retainers to hold the teeth in the correct position long-term.
If you have a complex orthodontic case, your orthodontist may recommend you have braces instead. Braces have more pulling power than Invisalign so they’re more efficient at fixing an overbite, under-bite and cross-bite, overcrowding and very crooked teeth.
Some people who suffer from bruxism don’t undertake orthodontic treatment and instead, use a “splint” or night guard. While a night guard can’t fix the problem, it prevents teeth damage. The custom-fitted guard is worn while sleeping to prevent teeth rubbing against each other and damaging teeth. The night guard also prevents jaw and face pain because it acts as a cushion for the muscles in the jaw.
Night guards are available in different materials. The soft night guards are only suitable for those people who grind their teeth occasionally and not severely. Dual laminate night guards are for moderately severe teeth grinders with a hard outside and soft inside and hard night guards assist with severe grinding and TMJ.
If you grind your teeth at night, speak to an orthodontist about your options however, doubt exclude the possibility that the grinding might be part of a more serious general health problem such as sleep apnea. Orthodontic treatment can deliver a perfect smile and protect your teeth from years of damage caused by grinding. If you would like to know your options, find an orthodontist near you using this link https://caortho.org/locations?zip=92374&d=5 to make an appointment. An orthodontist will be able to examine you and advise you of the best course of management.
Ikiwa umewahi kuambiwa kwamba wewe ni mchimbaji wa meno, huenda ukajiuliza ikiwa matibabu ya meno yaweza kuokoa meno yako kutokana na shambulio lao la usiku. Invisalign inaweza kusaidia kupunguza au kuacha kusaga usiku ikiwa meno yako au taya yako haiko sawa. Kusafisha na kusawazisha meno inaweza kuwa mkakati bora wa kudumu wa kuponya meno ya kusaga, hata hivyo suala ni ngumu sana na njia ambayo meno yako yamepangwa inaweza tu kucheza sehemu ndogo katika kuelekeza wewe kwa kusaga. Mshtuko wa meno (Bruxism) ni nini? Bruxism ni kushinikiza au kushinikiza meno ambayo hutokea mara nyingi wakati wa usingizi usiku lakini inaweza kutokea wakati wa kuamka. Kutoa meno mara kwa mara hakusababishi madhara yoyote, lakini kutoa meno kwa ukawaida kunaweza kusababisha madhara makubwa ya meno. Bruxism ni tatizo tata na watu wenye kuumwa abnormal, kukosa au meno crooked inaweza kuwa zaidi ya kuathiriwa na grinding kuliko watu na kuumwa kawaida. Watafiti wanaamini kuwa watu wengi wanaweza kubadilisha shughuli zao za kutafuna na kazi kwa kuumwa kwa njia isiyo ya kawaida, lakini wale ambao hawana uwezo wa kubadilika ni zaidi ya kuathiriwa na kuumwa. Mkazo, wasiwasi na matatizo ya usingizi ni baadhi ya sababu kuu zinazoongoza kwenye kusaga meno. Kuna uhusiano kati ya baadhi ya dawa kwa ajili ya unyogovu, ugonjwa wa Parkinson na ugonjwa wa Huntington na bruxism. Watu wenye ugonjwa wa kupumua wakati wa usingizi huchoma meno yao usiku. Apnea ya usingizi ni tatizo la kawaida ambalo linaweza kuhusiana na kizuizi cha njia za kupumua na au matatizo na sensorer katika mwili wako ambazo hupima viwango vya oksijeni katika damu. Tonsils na adenoids zilizopanuka zinaweza kuzuia kupumua, lakini kwa watu wazima, kuongezeka kwa uzito wa mwili na tishu ya ziada kwenye shingo na njia za hewa huzuia mtiririko wa hewa wakati wa kupumua, na kusababisha kusimamishwa kati ya kupumua na kupunguzwa kwa oksijeni katika damu. Ubongo hujaribu kulipa msamaha kwa kuashiria taya ya kufyatua na kusaga na protrude taya kushikilia njia ya hewa wazi. Njia ya hewa pia huhifadhiwa ikiwa wazi kwa utendaji wa kawaida wa misuli katika misuli inayozunguka njia ya hewa. Kupoteza sauti katika njia za hewa inaweza kupatikana na umri ulioongezeka, unyogovu wa kliniki na sababu kama vile kuongezeka kwa ulaji wa pombe. Ikiwa una wasiwasi kwamba una apnea ya usingizi, ni muhimu kuwasiliana na daktari wa usingizi, kwa sababu kuna athari nyingi za afya za pili za apnea ya usingizi. Watu wengi hawajui kwamba wao grind meno yao katika usingizi wao mpaka daktari wa meno anaona ishara ya kuvaa au mpenzi wao anawaambia. Wengine wanaweza kuwa na dalili hizo na bado hawajui kwamba ni kwa sababu ya kusaga meno. Huenda wakapata maumivu ya kichwa ya daima, yasiyo na hisia au maumivu ya taya lakini wasijue kisababishi. Matatizo ya Bruxism: Mzunguko wa meno unaweza kusababisha matatizo mbalimbali ya meno, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuharibika kwa enamel, flattening na kuharibika kwa uso wa jino, meno kuhamia nje ya alignment, sensitivity ya meno, kuvaa chini, kuvunjika na kupoteza meno baada ya kufunguliwa. Watu wenye apnea ya usingizi na kuongezeka kwa uzito wa mwili (BMI) wanaweza pia kuwa na reflux ya tumbo ambapo asidi kutoka tumbo hutolewa wakati wa kulala. Mchanganyiko wa asidi inayotenganisha meno na bruxism ni njia yenye nguvu ya kupoteza haraka uso wa meno. Kwa watu fulani, si meno yao tu yanayovumilia madhara ya kusaga, bali pia ulimi wao na sehemu ya ndani ya mashavu yao huathiriwa. Maumivu ya meno, taya na masikio ni ya kawaida baada ya usiku wa kusaga meno. Wagonjwa wanaweza pia kuhisi maumivu ya misuli na ugumu katika taya, uso na vichwa. Baada ya miaka mingi ya kusaga meno, huenda watu wakahitaji kufanya kazi kubwa ya meno ili kurekebisha uharibifu na kuokoa meno. Meno yaliyoharibiwa yanaweza kuhitaji kutibiwa kwa taji, daraja, implant, au hata meno ya meno, na mara nyingi meno ya mzeituni kama matokeo ya kuvaa na orthodontics inahitajika kurudisha meno kwenye nafasi zao za awali kabla ya kurudisha dutu iliyopotea. Ni hadithi ya zamani ya kupata misingi haki kabla ya kujenga nyumba. Bila matibabu, meno yanaweza kufunguka au kuanguka. Mshtuko wa mgongo unaweza pia kuathiri taya, na matatizo ya temporomandibular (TMJ na TMD) husababisha matatizo makubwa. Jinsi ya kuzuia meno Grinding Kuna hatua kadhaa unaweza kuchukua ili kupunguza nafasi ya wewe grinding meno yako wakati wa usiku ikiwa ni pamoja na: Mfadhaiko ni sababu kuu ya meno grinding, hivyo chochote unaweza kufanya ili kupunguza viwango vya mkazo wako inaweza kupunguza meno grinding yako. Kufunga wakati wa kuamka hufanya iwe vigumu hata zaidi kuvunja zoea hilo wakati wa usingizi. - Kujishughulisha na mambo ya akili kunaweza kuongeza uchungu, kwa hiyo jaribu kuzima na kupumzika kabla ya kulala. Ugonjwa au dehydration inaweza kusababisha mwili kuchoma, hivyo kwenda kitandani vizuri hydrated. matibabu ya orthodontic inaweza kusaidia na mpangilio abnormal ya meno (meno crooked, overbite, chini ya kuumwa, msalaba kuumwa) ambayo itafanya kuwa rahisi kwa ajili yenu kukabiliana na uhusiano kuumwa. Daktari wa meno au daktari wa meno yaweza kutambua ishara za kusaga kwa kuchunguza meno. Vifaa vya kulia viungo vya mwili vinaweza kusaidia kupunguza matatizo ya kuumwa na kuharibu bruxism na kufanya iwe rahisi kwako kurekebisha. Kuunganisha meno yako na mdomo wako kwa njia ya moja kwa moja kunamaanisha kwamba meno yako yanafaa pamoja vizuri ndani ya taya na huondoa hamu ya kusaga meno. Katika siku za kwanza za kuvaa vifungo vya meno, kusaga meno kwaweza kuzidi kuwa mbaya huku mdomo wako ukibadilika. Kama wewe ni wasiwasi na ukali wa meno yako grinding na wasiwasi inaweza kuharibu meno yako au braces, kuzungumza na orthodontist yako kuhusu wasiwasi wako. Mara tu meno yanapoanza kulinganishwa, kwa kawaida kupiga-piga hupungua na kwa matumaini kunakoma baada ya meno kulinganishwa kabisa. Kwa watu wazima na watoto, kuna njia ya kutumia braces ili kusaidia meno yao. Watu fulani hawapatwi na tatizo la kupiga meno hadi wanapokuwa watu wazima. Aina zote za vifungo vya meno vinafaa kwa ajili ya kutibu ugonjwa wa bruxism. Wagonjwa wanaweza kuchagua braces za jadi za chuma au chaguzi za aesthetic zaidi za braces wazi au braces za lugha (ndani). Baada ya braces yako ni mbali, unahitaji kuvaa retainers yako wazi wakati wote katika kwanza na kisha usiku kwa kushikilia meno yako katika nafasi yao mpya. Aligners (kuhifadhi) inaweza kutumika kama kizuizi kulinda meno yako tu katika kesi ya bado grind meno yako. Watu wengine huendelea kusaga meno yao hata wakati kuumwa kunapoondolewa na mkakati ulioboreshwa unahitaji kutengenezwa ikiwa ni pamoja na usimamizi wa mkazo, hata hivyo wagonjwa wengi hutolewa na plastiki au mlinzi ambaye huvaliwa kitandani ili kupunguza athari ya kusaga meno. Kwa mfano, kuna watu ambao huamua kutibu tatizo la meno yao kwa kutumia invisalign. Invisalign inasaidia wagonjwa kupata nafasi ya meno yao katika nafasi inayohitajika. Karibu kila baada ya majuma mawili, wagonjwa huanza kutumia sahani nyingine ili kuendelea na utaratibu wa kusawazisha. Matibabu ya Invisalign ya kawaida huchukua miezi 12 hadi 18. Wagonjwa huvaa seti ya mwisho ya sahani kama vifungo vya kushikilia meno katika nafasi sahihi kwa muda mrefu. Ikiwa una tatizo la meno, daktari wako wa meno anaweza kukupendekeza utumie braces badala yake. Braces kuwa na nguvu zaidi ya kuvuta kuliko Invisalign hivyo wao ni ufanisi zaidi katika kurekebisha overbite, chini ya kuumwa na msalaba-kuumwa, overcrowding na meno crooked sana. Watu fulani wanaopatwa na bruxism hawafanyi matibabu ya orthodontic na badala yake, hutumia "splint" au mlinzi wa usiku. Ingawa mlinzi wa usiku hawezi kurekebisha tatizo hilo, yeye huzuia meno yasiharibike. Mlinzi aliyebuniwa kwa ajili ya mtu huyo huvaliwa anapolala ili kuzuia meno yasigongane na kuharibu meno. Mlinzi wa usiku pia huzuia maumivu ya taya na uso kwa sababu hufanya kazi kama mto kwa misuli ya taya. Walinzi wa usiku wanapatikana katika vifaa tofauti. Walinzi wa usiku laini ni sahihi tu kwa watu hao ambao grind meno yao mara kwa mara na si sana. Dual laminate night guards ni kwa ajili ya mashine za kusaga meno zenye uzito wa wastani, na ngumu nje na laini ndani, na ngumu usiku guards kusaidia na kusaga kali na TMJ. Ikiwa unachoma meno usiku, zungumza na daktari wa meno kuhusu chaguzi zako, hata hivyo, shaka ni mbali na uwezekano kwamba kuchoma kunaweza kuwa sehemu ya tatizo kubwa la afya kama vile apnea ya usingizi. Matibabu ya meno ya kawaida yanaweza kutoa tabasamu kamili na kulinda meno yako kutokana na miaka ya uharibifu unaosababishwa na kusaga. Ikiwa unataka kujua chaguzi zako, tafuta daktari wa meno karibu na wewe kwa kutumia kiungo hiki https: caortho.org.uk ili ufanye miadi. Mtaalamu wa meno yaweza kukuchunguza na kukushauri jinsi ya kukabiliana na tatizo hilo.