Knowra Bruxism Bruxism Bruxism is repetitive jaw-muscle activity involving tooth clenching or grinding, occurring during sleep or wakefulness. It can cause no symptoms or contribute to tooth damage, jaw pain, and related problems.
Sleep bruxism : Bruxism occurring during sleep, characterized by rhythmic or sustained jaw-muscle activity. This form is often linked to brief arousals and can occur without conscious awareness.
Tooth wear : The gradual loss of tooth structure through physical contact, chemical erosion, or other processes. Repeated grinding can create characteristic wear, but wear alone does not prove active bruxism.
Polysomnography : An overnight sleep study that records brain activity, breathing, movement, and other physiological signals. It can document sleep-related jaw-muscle activity when a sleep evaluation is warranted.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction : Pain or impaired movement involving the jaw joint and associated structures. It can resemble or accompany bruxism, but describes a disorder rather than the jaw activity itself.
Awake bruxism : Bruxism occurring during wakefulness, commonly involving sustained tooth contact or jaw bracing. Unlike sleep bruxism, this pattern can be noticed and modified while awake.
Temporomandibular disorders : Conditions involving pain or dysfunction in the jaw joints and muscles that control jaw movement. Bruxism may coexist with jaw pain, though it is not the sole cause of these disorders.
Electromyography : A technique that measures electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. Jaw electromyography can detect muscle activity, especially during sleep studies.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease : A chronic condition in which stomach contents flow back into the esophagus and cause troublesome symptoms or complications. Reflux can erode teeth, producing damage that may be confused with grinding-related wear.
Masticatory muscles : The muscles that move the jaw during chewing and other jaw functions. Their repeated contraction produces the clenching and grinding that define bruxism.
Myofascial pain : Pain arising from muscles and surrounding connective tissue, sometimes associated with tender points. Persistent jaw-muscle activity can contribute to tenderness and aching in the face.
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