By: Jason Maxwell
Submitted: 2010-10-28 21:19:43 | Word Count: 530
Wikipedia explains bruxism from the Greek word brugmos as grinding of the teeth accompanied by clenching the jaw during nighttime sleep or daytime naps. It is classified mostly as a form of habit and at the same time, considered as one of the sleep disorders. Teeth grinding is more of an activity governed by the unconscious mind during the sleep process while chewing is a neuromuscular activity controlled by the subconscious process.
A person grinding his or her teeth usually happens if he or she needs to say something but unable to do so thus causes frustration while he continues his journey with life. But this teeth grinding ceases when the situation is resolved by allowing the person to express what he or she needs to say. When one dreams of chewing gum, he may also exhibit teeth grinding. Thus a person who grinds his teeth at night is unaware of such activity until someone tells him he does or until complications such as dental problems, persistent headache and muscle pain somewhere in the mandible and neck area occur.
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Though bruxism is not a life-threatening condition, proper medical, dental and psychological attention are needed depending on the causes why it is experienced by a person. The management also depends on the severity of the disorder. Some bruxers just need to bite on towels, munch on apples, while others who have more severe form undergo psychotherapy, surgical intervention and biofeedback mechanism or through the use of scientifically proven and medically accepted gadgets such as mouth guards and biofeedback headbands.
Mona Lisas mysterious smile which has captured majority of us had some untold story about it. Mona Lisa believed to have suffered from bruxism as a result of the strain of prolonged posing for the great Leonardo da Vinci. Kurt Cobain, the vocalist of Nirvana, has been constantly seen moving his jaw in most of his footage. Majority believe that this may be due to the side effects of the drugs that he has been taking while others say that it has become his habit which started as a kid in an attempt to maintain or keep-up with the rhythm which he never learned to overcome. The late Anna Nicole Smith, was informed by a dentist named Nick Luizzi, that her teeth grinding due to nervousness, resulted in her need of 20 crowns. It was never reported if Ms. Smith had a major dental work-up but judging from the look of her teeth when she smiled, it was evident that she sought medical and dental treatment.
Although it was never reported how and when those other personalities sought treatment, what was crucial was that, they were aware of the existence of the disorder and people around them encouraged treatment procedure.
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Although TMJ never becomes a life-threatening sleep disorder, treatment is vital for a persons normal sleep process. The key to a successful teeth grinding treatment is the persons emotional acceptance and preparedness thus it is extremely important that a bruxer finds emotional support from family members and from people having the same disorder. Just as the famous line ”It takes one to be one” applies.
