A DURBAN dentist is treating several patients suffering from bruxism – involuntary teeth grinding and clenching – which leads to a host of health issues.
Musgrave dentist, Dr Eubulus Timothy, reports that the stresses of the Covid-19 pandemic have seen a rise in bruxism cases.
As bruxism is characterised as the involuntary grinding of ones’ teeth, often while they sleep, patients are usually unaware of the condition. With a host of side affects, bruxism is often misdiagnosed.
“Bruxism is when you grind your teeth, clench your teeth or fix your mandible forward,” explained Timothy.
Here are four signs of bruxism to look out for:
Headaches or shoulder and lower-back pain
If left untreated, bruxism can lead to aches and pains in the body – a symptom that is easily misdiagnosed.
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“People with bruxism often experience headaches and visit a doctor who will prescribe scheduled painkillers,” said Timothy.
Enlarged jaw or jaw ache
“Any muscle that you overwork, becomes bigger. People with bruxism will have an enlarged masseter,” explained Timothy.
The masseter is a large muscle that raises the lower jaw.
Lack of concentration and insomnia
Bruxism can also cause sleep disturbances as some patients brux during the night or suffer from pain caused by bruxism.
“There are two types of Bruxism – one when you are sleeping, and one when you’re awake. Some people clench their jaw when they are writing or working – that’s a type of bruxism. It’s really debilitating – it really slows you down and makes life difficult,” said Timothy.
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“When you don’t sleep, you lose interest in many activities and don’t feel like doing anything. The patient assumes they are depressed. When you are feeling tired and down, or you have body aches and headaches, visit your dentist and find out if you grind,” added Timothy.
Worn teeth
Grinding causes wear and tear on teeth – although this might not be obvious to the untrained eye.
“A dentist will be able to tell by taking down a quick history and examining the teeth,” said Timothy.
- Don’t miss the next issue of Berea Mail for the full article where Timothy discusses advances in Bruxism treatment and how patients can retrain their brains.
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