Bruxism is an oral condition where people unwittingly grind or clench their teeth. Most people have have sporadic instances where they manifest this kind of behavior, for instance when they are under some kind of stress. Provided the behavior recedes when the stress goes away there will be little need for any kind of treatment. However if the Bruxism (or the cause of the Bruxism) is chronic and doesn’t go away, serious damage can be done to the jaw and teeth and may need some form of treatment.

Along with teeth grinding, some of the symptoms for the condition include headaches, depression, and jaw pain. Nobody can categorically say that they know the cause of bruxism but it is strongly believed to be brought on by stress in most cases.  Teeth grinding guards, Botox, and biofeedback devices are some of the forms of treatment for bruxism that are currently being used by doctors.

Teeth grinding mouth guards are usually the first treatment for bruxism that will be prescribed to a sufferer. It is not a treatment as such, rather a way to manage the condition and stop or prevent any damage to the teeth.

To prevent a person from grinding their teeth, the mouth guard should be worn each night. You can purchase a mouth guard at your local store, online or have one made for you by your dentist. If purchased through your dentist, the cost may be around $500 or less. Buying online or through a local store will be much cheaper but the guard may not fit as closely as the customized version made by your dentist.

Botox is another form of treatment for bruxism. When Botox is injected in the jaw muscles, it weakens these muscles in order to prevent the person from grinding their teeth. An injection must be given in both of the jaw muscles in order to be effective. It should be repeated by a physician every three months. This treatment is expensive but may be covered under your health insurance. Again it is not really a cure for the problem but a way to alleviate the symptoms.

Another form of treatment of bruxism is a biofeedback device. When these devices were first created, they were battery-powered headbands that were place on a person’s head during sleeping and sounded an alarm when the person began to tighten their jaw. Other types of biofeedback devices have been developed over the years. One of the up to date versions prevents a person from clenching their teeth by making them breath through their mouth instead of nose. Many people have had some type of success with this method.

Each treatment for bruxism should reduce some of the pain and discomfort a person is experiencing if the treatment is used or done properly. To assist with their treatment, a person should also try to determine the reason behind the bruxism. Relaxation and meditation tips should be done prior to going to bed each night if stress is identified as a possible underlying causes of the condition. Surgery may be needed if a person continues to have severe symptoms from bruxism.