Did you know that approximately 15% of all people in their sleep grind their teeth. It is also important that the number of people who suffer from gnashing of teeth is growing steadily. The contraction of the masticatory muscles, which occurs involuntarily and causes gnashing of teeth in a dream, is called bruxism in specialized literature. The term bruxism comes from the Greek - brychein, which means grinding teeth. Bruxism occurs with equal frequency in both adults and children.
What makes teeth grind in a dream?
At the moment, scientists cannot determine the exact reasons why they grit their teeth in a dream. But there are still some hypotheses about this. One of the researchers is inclined to believe that tooth creaking is one of the many manifestations of sleep disturbance, or rather its depth. Teeth grinding, like snoring, is often associated with nightmares that haunt some people.
Other scientists believe that in a dream people who have a pathology of a dentition bite their teeth and until this problem is resolved, bruxism will not disappear. There is also an opinion that the cause of teeth grinding is the existence in some people of a residual reflex comparable to the reflex of animals that grind their teeth in this way.
Another explanation for the fact that some people grind their teeth in a dream is the transmission of this gene by heredity. There is no exact opinion on the involvement of certain genes, but this assumption is actively considered by scientists.
And still to the question “Why are teeth grinding in a dream?” most specialists are ready to give the following answer. Those people who are prone to grit their teeth in a dream are those who are prone to stressful situations, as a result of which anxiety and internal tension appear. As a result, overexcitation occurs before going to bed. True, bruxism can also be observed in completely calm people with a balanced character and not prone to violent manifestations of emotions.
If we talk about children's bruxism, then this feature does not threaten most of the children and passes, as a rule, with age. Nevertheless, experts strongly recommend in some cases to consult with a neuropsychiatrist. Sometimes such children need specialized help or psychotherapy, and in some cases they may show serious psychological pathologies.
If teeth grit in a dream, how can this threaten a person prone to this disorder?
- Firstly, headaches and toothaches.
- In the future, this feature can lead to bone damage and a change in the jaw joints.
- It can also lead to increased sensitivity of the teeth and their rapid wear.
So what should you do if your relatives and friends grit your teeth in a dream?
First of all, psychotherapeutic and psychological methods are recommended that help to get rid of stresses or significantly reduce their negative impact. In the case of the development of this problem in a child, it is imperative to reduce the stress load, especially before he goes to bed. When this habit becomes permanent, frequent consultations of the dentist are necessary to be aware of the condition of your baby’s teeth. You can offer your child to eat an apple or carrots before bedtime. This simple task will help him relax his muscles and reduce the likelihood of grinding his teeth in a dream. Another method that is suitable for both adults and children is a hot compress, which will also result in muscle relaxation.
Since we have already said that it is precisely those people who are prone to stress who grit their teeth in their sleep, I want to offer them anti-stress measures: regular nutrition, elimination or reduction of caffeine use, walks at bedtime will have a positive effect. In addition, it is recommended to build your work day in such a way as to exclude excessive loads. It is also recommended that whenever possible avoid conflicts and quarrels, if necessary, sometimes it is possible to take drugs with soothing herbs before bedtime.
Nevertheless, it is imperative to remember that the methods of treating bruxism are strictly individual, so any treatment should be accompanied by consultation with specialists.