Bruxism is the result of clenching the jaw down tightly and grinding the teeth. When you clench down on your teeth pressure is put on the muscles, tissues and other structures surrounding the jaw.  People who clench their teeth mainly do it while sleeping.

Symptoms

• Sore jaw
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Eating disorders

Causes

Most people clench their teeth more at night than during the day because you have no control over it when sleeping. Others do it throughout the day without even realizing it. Though the cause of Bruxism is not determined completely some causes are:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Posture
• Diet
• Sleeping habits
• Misaligned teeth

Not being in control of how tightly you bite down is the main problem. People with severe headaches may clench their teeth at night without even knowing about it.  Those bruxers who live alone are especially at risk because there is no one there to hear them grinding to inform them of the habit.

How to treat Bruxism

There is no definitive treatment for Bruxism, though there is prevention.  There is no way to completely stop clenching your teeth if you do already. It’s more about management than anything else.

Ways to manage and sooth the pain of Bruxism

• Relax your jaw throughout the day. When you realize that you are clenching your teeth while you’re awake, let loose.
• Try to tilt your head down when you are yawning as to prevent jaw injury due to hyperextention
• Getting plenty of sleep is essential to releasing pain, although most clenching/grinding is done while you sleep, more sleep releases stress and reduces jaw clenching.
• Massage the muscles in your neck, jaw and even behind your ears.
• Keep hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Avoid eating food that is hard to chew.
• Wearing a night guard while you sleep will help from getting the headaches and jaw pains, in addition to protecting the teeth from wear caused by grinding.

The best prevention of damage caused by grinding is a night guard. Impressions of the teeth are taken and a night guard is customized to fit the teeth perfectly. You don’t have to suffer from bruxism anymore! Please fee free to call us if you feel that you or your child may suffer from bruxism.  We can discuss your individual case, severity & options for treatment that will work best for you.

• Make brushing at home interesting. Tell them you’re going to paint their teeth clean with a special paintbrush (meaning the toothbrush). Buy them fruity toothpaste, toothpaste that they will like. Let them pick out the toothpaste and toothbrush they’ll be using.
• Do not make any references to more complicated aspects of dentistry (like the crown you needed, or the terrible toothache you had once)
• Do not refer to a negative experience that you may have had regarding dentistry. Fear is a learned response and the way your child reacts to the dental appointment can be greatly influenced by how you prepare your child at home. Children are very intelligent and observant and can sense parental emotion in many ways.
• Refrain from offering rewards or bribes for good behavior

Our office is geared towards making your child comfortable and knowledgeable about good oral hygiene. All your child needs to know for the first visit is that they going to have their teeth counted and receive a new toothbrush and surprises. Usually, the first visit consists of parent education and the child having his/her teeth counted (examined). This insures that the child has a fun and easy experience, finishing with the receipt of a new toothbrush, stickers, and prizes. On the second visit we introduce the electric toothbrush (polisher), floss, and vitamins (topical fluoride treatment). As far as pictures (radiographs) are concerned, we generally decide together when they are required.

Like many things, preparation for something is just as important as the actual experience. We encourage parents to prepare their children for the first dental visit in a positive way!

If not properly treated, bacteria in the mouth can affect the heart when it enters the blood stream and attaches fatty plaques throughout the heart’s blood vessels. This can result in the formation of clots & potential heart attacks.

Studies also show that periodontal disease can cause low birth weight in babies. Women with periodontal disease have a greater risk for giving birth to babies that are born too early and/or too small. Periodontal disease also increases the biological fluid that induces labor which causes the risk of pre-mature babies.

Individuals with diabetes have a higher risk of gum disease due to a weakened immune system (about twice the risk). Diabetes and periodontal disease can also assist in increasing blood sugar levels. Oral symptoms of diabetes include but are not limited to: difference in taste, burning mouth syndrome, abnormal wound healing and fungal infections. Check your mouth periodically to see if you notice anything abnormal such as bleeding, white patches, bad taste, dryness, and/or soreness.

So, is your family really healthy? Do they brush and floss daily? Does each family member have at least two professional dental cleanings a year? Forming these healthy habits in our children early in their development will result in better overall health for the rest of their lives!

I’m very pleased to let everyone know that Lexington Pediatric Dental was able to stay open during the “water crisis”. Who would think that a dental office could stay open for regular hours of operation when so many other businesses could not. Because of our state of the art office and equipment, Monday morning we opened at regular time and saw patients for their scheduled appointments. The water issues were not an inconvenience for LPD because we do not rely on town water. Instruments are sanitized & cleaned in our ultrasonic & autoclave machines using distilled water. And the water used in the treatment rooms was simply changed out with purified water, safe for drinking and the use of everyday activity. Cleaning teeth and performing dental procedures was no problem and the office was able to carry on as normal! Lexington Pediatric Dental is committed to providing excellent dental care to our patients in a safe environment and I’m proud to say the recent contaminated water issue is a great example of that.

Children’s hands and mouths are different than adults. They need to use toothbrushes designed for children. Both adults and children should use brushes with soft, rounded bristles for gentle cleaning. Change to a new brush about every three months.

Wipe infant’s teeth gently with a moist, soft cloth or gauze square. As babies grow, use a child’s toothbrush with a small, pea-sized dab of toothpaste. By age two or three begin to teach your child to brush. You will still need to brush where they miss. Dentists and hygienists often advise children to use a gentle, short, back and forth motion to remove plaque. When children are older, they can switch to this method.

Hold the brush at a 45 degrees angle towards teeth and gums. Move brush back and forth with short strokes, about a half tooth wide.

• Brush the inside and outside surfaces of each tooth, top and bottom.
• Hold the brush flat on top of the teeth and brush the chewing surfaces.
• Gently brush the tongue to remove debris.
• Floss between teeth daily.

When To Begin Brushing

Once your child’s teeth begin erupting, you can begin cleaning them by wiping them with a moist washcloth. As your child gets more teeth, you can begin to use a soft child’s toothbrush. You should use just a pea-sized amount of toothpaste (such as Baby OraGel) until your child is able to spit it out (too much fluoride can stain their teeth).

For most toddlers, getting them to brush their teeth can be quite a challenge. Some suggestions for making tooth brushing less of a battle can include:

• Let your child brush your teeth at the same time.
• Let your child pick out a few toothbrushes with his favorite characters and giving him a choice of which one he wants to use each time (this will give him some feeling of control over the situation).
• Let your child brush his own teeth first (you will likely have to “help out”).
• Let your child some children’s books about tooth brushing.
• Have everyone brush their teeth at the same time.

To help your child understand the importance of brushing, it can be sometimes fun and helpful to let them eat or drink something that will “stain“ their teeth temporarily and then brush them clean.

It can also be a good idea to create a “tooth brushing routine”. And stick to the same routine each day.

Sealants protect the depressions and grooves of your teeth from food particles and plaque that brushing and flossing can’t reach.

Easy to apply, sealants take only a few minutes to seal each tooth. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and can last several years before a reapplication is needed.

Children and adults can benefit from sealants in the fight against tooth decay.