Money Worries?

Experts report that teeth grinding is on the increase due to stress over the recession.

The Bruxism Association, a not for profit organization have fielded 60% more calls and requests for information about the condition in recent months, thought to be because of the recession. This is supported by evidence from dental professionals who report similar increases in patients with teeth damage from bruxism.

Feeling Sleepy?

Getting a good nights rest can be a challenge if you clench and grind your teeth at night. Try practicing the "Lips Together, Teeth Apart" philosophy before retiring to bed. Over time, it has proven to help reduce the symptoms of bruxism.

Treatments

The conventional way to deal with bruxism is to get the sufferer to wear a plastic dental guard at night. This might provide short term relief and protection, but it is not really a treatment in the sense that it does not deal with the underlying cause. It is also generally accepted that a dental guard should only be used as a short term measure. However, getting to the root cause of the grinding problem may take some time, so be prepared to keep your guard around for a while.

If your are serious about getting at the root causes of your teeth grinding, you may have to make some lifestyle changes. For example, reducing alcohol, tea and coffee consumption before bedtime and generally adopting a more relaxed sleep regime. Some people benefit from Hypnotherapy, which is a well documented approach to bruxism. It works by inducing a relaxed state of mind and awareness of the condition and goes on to help address the underlying causes, which may include complex and deep seated emotional and physiological factors.  For some people, this is enough for them to break free from the habit. Ursula James is the leading hypnotherapy practitioner in the UK and has developed a program specifically for teeth bruxism sufferers.

Various other treatments are available, including Botox, which has had some early success in trials. Also, biofeedback devices seem to provide some benefits.

Treatment for malocclusion may be recommended by your dentist, but do not be afraid to challenge it and get a second opinion if necessary. Grinding away healthy teeth is not something that should be done without the necessary due diligence and careful consideration.

Highly Strung violinists feel the strain!

According to a recent study entitled `a symphony of maladies` published in the British Medical Journal, 73% of violin players suffer from bruxism compared to 34% in a control group.

The study looked at the health of musicians in general and discovered a range of challenges not faced by other professions. In particular, musicians suffer orthodontic problems because of pressure to the mandible joint when playing string instruments which may cause bruxism and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.