Between 15% and 90% of the population has had episodes of bruxism

Bruxism is a very common condition among the population. Several studies indicate that between 15% and 90% of the population has had episodes of bruxism – excessive teeth grinding. In Portugal the numbers show that approximately 100 thousand people are affected. Being an unconscious habit, it is, usually, diagnosed late.

Bruxism can be set during the day or nighttime. When we talk about daytime bruxism, it is characterized by the semi-voluntary activity of the jaw, being related to repetitive habits, such as biting the fingernails, chewing gum or grinding the teeth. The causes for daytime bruxism are not consensual, but stress and anxiety are considered the main risk factors. These are also associated with the nighttime bruxism, as well as trouble with sleep – snoring, episodes of apnea, talking during sleep or hallucinations. The use of tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, sleeping pills, depression and anxiety may also be influential.

Bruxism affects both children and adults. In the children’s case, these episodes are related mainly with the natural exfoliation of the teeth and their placement within the jawbone. More serious cases may be related to anxiety situations. It is also common for bruxism to occur related to nasal obstruction and breathing complaints resulting from the hypertrophy of the tonsils and adenoids. As the child grows, usually, bruxism becomes less and less regular until it disappears. In the case of adults, bruxism must be seen as a pathology and corrected as soon as possible, avoiding as much as possible its consequences.

“Headaches are the most common symptom, given the effort the individual makes during the night. Discomfort in temporomandibular joint, face and chewing muscles pain, stiffness in the cervical region, limitation in mouth opening movements and sleep disorders are other symptoms.”, reminds us João Caramês, founder and director of the Instituto de Implantologia (Implantology Institute), in a press release. And he adds: “The consecutive grinding of the teeth causes countless problems, such as the enamel wear, which affects the integrity of the teeth, causing pain and problems in the jawbones and thetemporomandibular joint”.

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