“I am a dental surgeon and here are the 6 methods that I recommend to combat bruxism”

In France, it is estimated that around a third of adults suffer from waking bruxism and one in ten from nocturnal bruxism, commonly called “sleep bruxism”. Different forms of bruxism exist: jaw clenching, teeth grinding, tapping (a series of brief teeth clicking) and rocking which consists of moving the teeth back and forth. Bruxism can occur during sleep (sleep bruxism) and while awake (awake bruxism). In a chapter dedicated to this subject in his work The incredible power of teeth (Editions Leduc), the dentist Dr. Kevin, practitioner social media starexplains the origins of this disorder and gives some ideas for identifying and treating it.

Because bruxism, which all too often goes unnoticed, is a disorder to be taken seriously, he warns. “Over time, it can lead to tooth abrasion, receding gums, jaw pain, headaches and tinnitus (because the muscles of the jaw and inner ear are innervated by the same nerve). »

What causes?

“The primary cause of bruxism is of course stress and anxiety,” explains Dr. Kevin in his book. “The consumption of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine tends to accentuate the phenomenon. The use of certain medications, particularly antidepressants, could also be involved. »

What warning signs?

• You suffer from unexplained pain in your teeth or jaw.
• You suffer from headaches, tinnitus or dizziness.
• You regularly have ear pain.
• You have fractured or loose teeth.
• The surface of your teeth (the occlusal phase, i.e. the tops of the teeth) is smooth or damaged.

What solutions?

Currently, there is no miracle treatment to combat bruxism. On the other hand, certain methods can help, indicates Dr. Kévin. Here they are:

• Hypnosis.
• Specialized osteopathy.
• Botulinum toxin injections (“to be done by a specialist doctor, in certain specific cases”).
• Stress management techniques such as sophrology, meditation or yoga.
• Wearing trays at night to protect teeth.
• The biofeedback method. The latter “relies on wearing sensors on the face in order to gradually become aware of and control the movements of teeth grinding”, explains the expert.