BehindTheMedspeak: Bruxism II (Teeth-Grinding)

On December 8 I dealt with this issue, but I see more and more catalogs offering high-priced solutions that aren't one iota better than the old tried-and-true, low-cost remedies I suggested last year.

So, to avoid you spending inordinate amounts of your hard-earned cash on some nonsense, let me say the following:

The $69.99 device pictured just below

is less likely to solve your problem than the $2 or $1 iterations I advocated previously.

It's got moving parts (below)

and is far too complex (below),

besides which it will be impossible to keep clean and odor-free.

I use the $2 one (top of this post), but you know I tend to have expensive tastes.

I used the $1 version (below)

for many happy, grind-free years.

Tara Parker-Pope answered a reader's question about bruxism in her Wall Street Journal feature, "Health Mailbox," yesterday.

Here's the Q & A.

Q. I have started grinding my teeth at night this past year.

My wife hears me at night and wakes me up.

My dentist showed me where the top and bottom teeth meet and formed a smooth surface.

Is there a reason why out of the blue I started this?

Besides those night guards I see at the local pharmacy can anything be done?


A. Bruxism is the medical term for grinding and clenching of teeth, usually while sleeping.

It's a common problem -- as many as half of adults do it to some extent -- and it isn't at all uncommon for the problem to show up seemingly "out of the blue" in adulthood.

Often it's triggered by stress or frustration.

Sometimes pain from another health problem or a sleep disorder might trigger it.

Alcohol and some types of medicines, such as antidepressants, might make it worse.

So the first step is to assess your life.

Ask yourself if your stress levels have changed recently.

Some people have solved clenching problems by exercising more, by starting a yoga class or by reducing alcohol intake.

If better managing your stress doesn't help solve the problem, you should consider a mouth guard to protect your teeth.

Teeth clenching and grinding puts enormous force on your teeth and can lead to jaw pain, headache and other problems.

A custom-made guard from your dentist might be more comfortable than an over-the-counter guard, but insurance reimbursement for the guards varies.

Some of the most serious cases of bruxism have been treated with Botox injections.