Homeopathy Treatment for Grinding of Teeth
Grinding of teeth/Bruxism/Teeth Clenching
Bruxism is the habit of clenching and grinding the teeth. It most often occurs at night during sleep, but it may also occur during the day. It is an unconscious behavior, perhaps performed to release anxiety, aggression, or anger. It is an oral parafunctional activity that occurs in most humans at some time in their lives. Bruxism is one of the most common sleep disorders.
Bruxism may be mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems.
When you look in on your sleeping child, you want to hear sweet dreams: easy breathing and perhaps an occasional sigh. But some parents hear the harsher sounds of gnashing and grinding teeth, called bruxism, which is common in kids.
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Causes of Grinding of Teeth
Causes of Grinding of Teeth include the following: –
- Stress– it is believed to be the most common cause of Grinding of teeth. Stress can disrupt a person’s sleeping cycle. If a particular sleeping pattern is disrupted, the person ends up clenching their teeth unconsciously and intermittently during sleep.
- Suppressed anger and frustration-Many psychologists believe that this is the reason why people clench their teeth during the day. Suppressed anger is wrath a person can’t let out which is expressed in the form of Grinding of teeth.
- Abnormal alignment of teeth-abnormal alignment of the upper and lower teeth is referred to as malocclusion. This is one of the physical causes of teeth grinding
- Missing or crooked teeth– this is also a reason for Grinding of teeth during daytime.
- Hyperactive personalities(ADHD)-Some kids who are hyperactive also experience bruxism.
- Central nervous system diseases– in certain kids suffering with CNS diseases like cerebral palsy may experience Grinding of teeth.
- Medications- drugs like Prolintane, Catovit, Levodopa etc. may cause Grinding of teeth.
- Intestinal worms-intestinal worms are one of the important reasons for Grinding of teeth.
Symptoms and Signs of Grinding of Teeth
- Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
- Teeth may be worn down, flattened, fractured, or chipped
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
- Enlarged jaw muscles
- Earache — because of severe jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear
- Headache
- Chronic facial pain
- Chewed tissue on the inside of your cheek
- Indentations on your tongue
- Anxiety, stress and depression.
Diagnosis of Grinding of Teeth
Medical and dental histories, examinations, and x rays are usually necessary to differentiate bruxism from other conditions that may cause similar pain, such as ear infections, dental infections, and temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). In many cases, untreated bruxism can lead to chronic TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorders) due to the stress that prolonged Grinding of teeth places on the jaw and the temporomandibular joint which may result in damage to the teeth, facial pains etc.
Complications of Grinding of Teeth
Severe bruxism may lead to:
- Damage to your teeth (including restorations and crowns) or jaw
- Tension-type headaches
- Facial pain
- Temporomandibular disorders — which occur in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), located just in front of your ears and felt when opening and closing your mouth
Treatment of Grinding of Teeth
Homeopathy is a safe and inexpensive way to promote the body’s natural ability to heal. Each homeopathic remedy has specific documented effects upon the mind and body.
Magical doses of homeopathic medicines can relieve tension and help to soothe the emotional problems causing teeth grinding and teeth clenching. Homeopathic medicines are very useful for patients where there is a history of frustration and suppressed anger which not only causes Grinding of teeth but also changes the personality of a patient. Knowing patients have a history of suppressed anger is a laborious job done by a well qualified homeopath. A homeopath can change a hyperactive personality type to a normal person. All these major roots of bruxism are not cut by allopathic medicines.
Intestinal worms which cause Grinding of teeth can effectively be taken care of by proper homeopathic treatment. Properly prescribed homeopathic medicines not only remove the intestinal worms but also prevent the recurrences of worm infestations as the homeopathic medicines create a healthy environment in the intestinal flora.
How Homeopathy helps in Bruxism
- Homeopathy helps to reduce symptoms of bruxism like facial pain, earache etc.
- Homeopathic medicines help reducing stress and helps relaxing mind and body.
- Homeopathic medicines help the patient leave the anti anxiety or anti depression drugs gradually.
- Homeopathic medicines remove the bad effects of suppressed anger and frustration as the medicines act holistically treating the patient as a whole.
- Homeopathic medicines helps to combat intestinal worms thus not only preventing Grinding of teeth but also the other symptoms of worm infestation like skin rash, loss of appetite etc.
- Homeopathic medicines improve the blood supply of the muscles of the mouth thus preventing the spasm causing grinding.
Dietary Changes and Guidelines
While dietary changes may not completely stop teeth grinding, there are some guidelines which can contribute to prevention. Cutting sweets, alcohol and caffeine from the diet can decrease the frequency of Bruxism.