The assessment of bruxism is essential to diagnose and treat this condition, which involves the act of grinding or clenching the teeth involuntarily, especially during sleep, but can also occur during the day. Bruxism can cause a series of problems, such as tooth wear, muscle pain, temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and headaches. The complete evaluation includes a detailed history, clinical examinations and, when necessary, complementary exams.
Interesting fact:
Bruxism works as a natural stress relief mechanism:
Muscle tension and stress:
Stress causes the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, responsible for the “fight or flight” reactions. When a person is under stress, there is an increase in muscle tension, including the muscles of the face and jaw.
During sleep or even throughout the day, this tension can manifest itself as clenching or grinding of the teeth, being an unconscious way of “discharging” the accumulated energy.
Energy release and anxiety:
For many individuals, bruxism is a response to the accumulation of unexpressed anxiety and emotions. Clenching or grinding the teeth may be an unconscious way of releasing this emotional tension.
In the same way that some people bite their nails, swing their legs or have nervous tics, bruxism may be a bodily strategy to relieve psychological discomfort.
Connection with sleep disorders:
In stressful situations, sleep tends to be more shallow, interrupted and less restorative. Bruxism, especially at night, is often associated with these irregular sleep patterns, as a way for the body to try to process the stress accumulated throughout the day.
REM sleep (associated with dreams and emotional processing) is when episodes of nocturnal bruxism tend to occur most frequently. During this phase, the brain is most active, processing emotions and experiences, which can contribute to teeth grinding.
