Bruxism?

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:32 am

Yes, I'm still up and can't sleep due to tooth woes.
(see tooth topic, ...or not)

Bruxism......

SWS has gone and done it again......sending me scurrying to the dictionary in search of meaning.

Now, I hope cpaptalk admin people aren't up and watching me, but I was bored (being up all night) and well, I confess, I checked out the competition. There I see SWS discussing the trials and tribulations of bruxism. ...... What the heck? ........

So naturally, I am bored and need to find out what that is. Grinding of teeth. Ah-hah!! So that's it. Grinding of teeth. Nope. Don't think I have that problem. But I was told once that I have lots of scar tissue on the inside walls of my mouth where apparently I'd been chewing those walls. But then, I'm also told I have a small mouth ......... NOT ONE WORD FROM ANY OF YOU...!!! Yes, a small mouth, at least on the inside. So maybe I have done some bruxisming on occasion.

SWS -- I thank you for occupying my mind during my all-nighter.

And thank you cpaptalk for being here as a place where I can vent. (sorry)

Linda

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 8:44 am

Linda, indeed I am a diagnosed "bruxer". There are those who brux by day, those who brux by night, and those who brux during both the day and night. Bruxism is supposedly one of the oldest health disorders known to mankind, cited in the holy testaments and ancient literature as "gnashing of the teeth"!

Those who brux only by day can often alleviate their symptoms with meditation and relaxation techniques. Unfortunately I am a night time bruxer. Aside from the day and night distinction of bruxism, there's yet a second distinction among bruxers that I am aware of: grinding versus clenching. Grinding tends to be a lateral motion of upper and lower teeth wearing away at each other. Clenching is the diametrically opposed motion of simply biting down hard---very hard in my case. I have even fractured molars in the past. Aside from rarely fracturing molars, I will also feel considerable jaw and tooth pain for several days after a particularly bad night of bruxing.

Do we think this just might entail cortical arousals and poor sleep?

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 10:02 am

-SWS wrote:Linda, indeed I am a diagnosed "bruxer". There are those who brux by day, those who brux by night, and those who brux during both the day and night. Bruxism is supposedly one of the oldest health disorders known to mankind, cited in the holy testaments and ancient literature as "gnashing of the teeth"! ......

Do we think this just might entail cortical arousals and poor sleep?

Look, friend, you do this to me on purpose, don't you? Just to get me scurrying back to that dictionary. You're the reason I put the American Heritage Dictionary on my favorites list.

But I sort of knew already what "cortical" was, it's just not one of those words I use in every day life, young man!

1. Of, relating to, derived from, or consisting of cortex. 2. Of, relating to, associated with, or depending on the cerebral cortex.
OTHER FORMS: corti·cal·ly —ADVERB

Cortically we sing along, sing along, sing along!
Cortically we sing along, when help is on the way!

You like?

.....Guess I am not a bruxer. Must mess up those teeth big time, and I have managed to do that well enough without grinding my teeth. I do have a gag reflex to beat the band. Mind you, that isn't a very pleasant thing either. (God, I hope Liam's not reading this!)

Is there a certain personality trait that goes along with bruxism? Highly intelligent? Multi-faceted? Astute of language? Mysterious? I'm only wondering.

Thanks for the explanation!

Linda

slowday · Post by **slowday** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 10:48 am

When I had my sleep study they attached one of their four or five thousand sensors somewhere to check for bruxism. I was kind of startled to see it listed on the report. And despite my dentist selling me something to prevent nightime ginding a year ago I discovered that I don't grind my teeth at night.

-SWS · Post by **-SWS** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 11:14 am

Bruxism can be highly episodic (word selected just so Linda can continue to give me a hard time about her personal relationship with Webster ). My bruxism, for instance, did not show up on either of my PSG studies. Yet, when I do brux at night, boy do I really brux! It really hurts.

My understanding, Linda, is that some day time bruxers tend to be a bit more anxious/nervous/stressed/high-strung-----which is why relaxation and/or meditation can help in some cases of daytime bruxism. I am a night time bruxer and don't think I fit that personality profile...

Why in the %$&@ did you ask??? Boy does that really irk me!

Heheh! Just kidding! Honest!!! I'm not a type-A personality Really!!!

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:02 pm

-SWS wrote:Bruxism can be highly episodic (word selected just so Linda can continue to give me a hard time about her personal relationship with Webster.) .......

Heheh! Just kidding! Honest!!! I'm not a type-A personality Really!!!

Yes, me and Webster have gotten quite close!
Also American Heritage. Hope they aren't jealous and fighting over me.
And FYI, I've actually USED "episodic" in a sentence before, I think. You'll have to do better than that, mister!

Type A? Honestly, I couldn't put you into a category if my life depended on it. But you like being that way don't you, you turkey (something Mikesus called me once, the bum)! Of course, you know I'm kidding, I hope. About the turkey.

And you didn't even comment on my nice little song. Does my "creativity" offend you, my friend?

Back to bruxism (in case the OSA police are watching). Is this something OSA sufferers often have? Is it more prevalent in them then in the general population? Seems like questions up your proverbial alley.

BTW, I've just picked up my antibiotic for my tooth extraction, something I've not had before. Clindamycin. Nice of him to give me a drug with my name in it, don't you think?

Do you like the ostrich or the yellow peeps better?

Linda
(Type-Z personality)

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 1:05 pm

slowday wrote:When I had my sleep study they attached one of their four or five thousand sensors somewhere to check for bruxism. I was kind of startled to see it listed on the report. And despite my dentist selling me something to prevent nightime ginding a year ago I discovered that I don't grind my teeth at night.

Slowday,

They really checked for that? I would guess one of those sensors was in the mouth, maybe? Gosh, I don't remember anything like that. But with all those wires, who knows? Glad to hear you don't have the grinding. Bruxism sounds like one club I'd just as soon not be a member of.

Thanks.

Linda

luckylinda · Post by **luckylinda** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:07 pm

Linda,

I hadbruxism in the year or so previous to my initiating CPAP treatment. To my surprise I have not had any trouble with it since I began treatment.

I had read somewhere to relax the muscles in the jaw and face by placing the tip of the tongue on the spot between upper front teeth where the gums meet the teeth. It automatically reduces muscle tension.
Try it!

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:13 pm

luckylinda wrote:Linda,

I hadbruxism in the year or so previous to my initiating CPAP treatment. To my surprise I have not had any trouble with it since I began treatment.

I had read somewhere to relax the muscles in the jaw and face by placing the tip of the tongue on the spot between upper front teeth where the gums meet the teeth. It automatically reduces muscle tension.
Try it!

OK, are you pulling my leg?

I tried that, then looked around to see if anyone noticed. Ha!
Didn't notice much of a difference, but I do see how that kind of opens the jaw in the back. So maybe......

Are you sure I'm not supposed to now squawk like a chicken or something?

(just kidding, it just seemed odd, you know?)
(now, let's get -SWS to try that)

I don't have this bruxism stuff. But I do have a steel jaw that can clamp down on my dentist's hand in the blink of an eye. I'm sure he'd appreciate it if I could relax my jaw, for sure.

Thanks.

Linda
(now, isn't that one fine name, hmm?)

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 3:56 pm

Anyone see this site on bruxism?
It also has a window on sleep apnea.
I'd not seen this site before.

http://www.sleepeval.com/bruxism.htm

Linda

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:04 pm

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 4:06 pm

Oops!!!
Ignor the above post.......

That was me making a boo-boo and did so not logging on.
Am I embarrassed!
My ostrich is even embarrassed!

Linda

luckylinda · Post by **luckylinda** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:46 pm

OK, are you pulling my leg?

Not kidding, Linda. I believe I read it on Dr. Andrew Weil's site.

You must have been pretty relaxed when you did it not to feel much. Try it sometime when you feel uptight. Did I tell you you are supposed to keep your mouth closed while you are doing it?

I frequently to this when I am first laying down to sleep.

Yeah, nice moniker you've got!

LDuyer · Post by **LDuyer** » Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:50 pm

Thanks Lucky Linda,

I'll give that a try. I'll try anything once, maybe.
I always like great ideas. Even if they are a little, well, .... different.

I wonder if -SWS knows about this. I'm sure he'll read this and tell us.

Thanks.

Linda