Why bruxism is a sleep problem
Sleep bruxism is repetitive jaw-muscle activity during sleep, characterized by clenching and grinding of the teeth. Mouthguards protect the teeth — they do not address why the brain is generating the activity in the first place. We start with the polysomnogram.
Common contributors
- Sleep-disordered breathing — bruxism often clusters around apnea events
- Anxiety and stress-related arousal patterns
- Reflux (GERD) — nocturnal acid exposure can trigger jaw activity
- Certain medications, particularly some antidepressants
- Alcohol and caffeine timing
What we evaluate
- Polysomnogram with EMG channels for jaw-muscle activity
- Concurrent screening for obstructive sleep apnea and reflux
- Dental evaluation by our partner specialist for wear patterns and bite stability
- Psychology consultation when anxiety or stress patterns dominate
Treatment
- Treat the underlying sleep disorder first — when apnea or arousal patterns are driving events
- Custom occlusal splint — protects dentition while underlying treatment takes effect
- Reflux management — when GERD is implicated
- Stress and arousal modulation — behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene, and when appropriate, short-term pharmacology
Bruxism is a sleep disorder. Treating it as only a dental problem misses the cause and prolongs the damage.— Dr. Han Jin-Kyu