Bruxism is an affliction of the clenching of the jaws and gnashing of the teeth. It occurs in most people at some period of their lives but is usually a passing phase and does not result in any health issues.It is an unconscious habit that can occur either during the day or at night; the bruxism effects on the health of an individual are greatest when the clenching and grinding occurs while sleeping.While bruxism is not a disease but more of a habit, it can, if it continues for a long period, affect the overall health and lead to other medical problems arising.
Bruxism is normally divided into two categories – the short term and the long term and the effects and consequences of both are different. Short term bruxism effects include such problems as headaches (patients are more likely to suffer from headaches by a factor of three), earaches, aching facial and jaw muscles, difficulty in fully opening the mouth, pain and stiffness in the shoulders, sleep disruption, loose and falling teeth and inflamed gums among others health issues. Luckily in most cases when the bruxism stops, either as a natural process or through medical treatment, the effects also fade away on their own with no need for any additional treatments or therapy. One often overlooked affect of bruxism is the way it can damage a relationship. The constant grinding of teeth and disturbed sleep of a bruxism patient can affect the sleep of a partner or spouse to the extent they may be forced to sleep in another room and this can adversely affect the intimacy on which the relationship depends.
The long term bruxism effects can become major health issues requiring extensive treatment, often including surgery to correct bone and muscular degeneration. The most common and obvious bruxism effect is the damage to the teeth by the grinding – worn and broken teeth are common in those who have suffered from bruxism for a long time. While dental surgery and the fitting of caps and dentures can correct the disfigurement, nothing can be attempted until the bruxism is finally stopped. More serious, from the point of long term health problems is the Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ that results from the stress that bruxism places on the jaw, shoulder and other muscles.While these problems may be cured by physiotherapy, in many cases long term medication and even invasive treatment is normally called for.
Because bruxism is not a life threatening medical condition that does not mean that it should not be taken seriously. It should not be forgotten that bruxism effects extend far beyond the mouth and jaws and that it can have a major negative impact on the overall health and lead to other sicknesses.
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