What causes bruxism ?
Bruxism is an unintentional habit that can occur during the day or during sleep.
Allthough the exact causes of teeth grinding are unknown, most experts believe that bruxism is related to increased psychological stress and anxiety.
The main causes of bruxism include the following :
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Causes of bruxism in adults
In adults, bruxism is mostly associated with psychological factors, including :
Emotional stress, tension and increased anxiety.
Suppressed anger or frustration
Personality type. Some studies show that persons with aggressive, overly competitive, controlling or hyperactive personalities have an increased incidence of bruxism.
Other reasons mentioned as causes of teeth grinding in adults are :
Jaw, head or neck injury
Certain sleep disorders.
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Central nervous system dysfunction. Some theories are linking bruxism to the central nervous system disorders such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease.
Antidepressant medications like Prozac, Celexa and others, or drugs like ecstasy and cocaine
have been reported to cause bruxism as a side effect.
Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion) may contribute to teeth grinding and teeth clenching.
Alcohol and stimulants such as caffeine are considered as aggravating factors for bruxism.
Causes of bruxism in children
Bruxism is common in young children, but usually goes away by adolescence.
Bruxism in children is usually related to growth and development of the jaws and teeth.
Improper teeth alignment – As the permanent teeth are erupting one after the other, top and bottom teeth don't fit together comfortably until the permanent dentition is completed. This might explain why bruxism usually stops by adolescence.
Tension and anger may cause bruxism in children also just like in adults
Others believe that children grind their teeth as a response to teething or other pain.
It is very important for a succesful treatment of teeth grinding and clenching,
that the dentist identifies correctly what causes bruxism, so that the proposed treatment will be suitable for the individual patient's needs.
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