The neurologist spoke about the causes of Bruxism

Bruxism is the gnashing of teeth that occurs during sleep and can be a sign of nervous overexertion or anxiety disorders. On August 20, Natalia Stepanenko, a neurologist at Medicine JSC (Academician Roitberg Clinic), told Izvestia.

"Doctors still have not come to a consensus on the sole cause of bruxism, but there are several key factors, the leading one among which is neuropsychiatric," the specialist said.

According to her, Bruxism is manifested by the characteristic sound of grinding or clicking, which can be heard at night. At the same time, the person does not control this behavior, since it occurs in the phase of deep sleep. The main factors contributing to the occurrence of this condition are stress, anxiety disorders, and nervous overexertion. This applies not only to adults, but also to children, whose psyche is particularly vulnerable. This includes factors such as moving, starting kindergarten, and family problems such as parental quarrels.

In addition, bruxism can also be caused by dental problems, such as malocclusion or poorly installed fillings. In young children, this phenomenon may be associated with teething, when clenching the jaws helps to reduce itching in the gums.

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Despite popular folk versions, bruxism is not associated with the presence of worms, although parasitic infections can indirectly contribute to its development through a deficiency of B vitamins, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system.

"Bruxism is a very common companion of anxiety and chronic stress. Although there are no exact figures describing the relationship in adults in the provided text, the general statistics speak for themselves: about 15% of the world's population suffers from this phenomenon. At the same time, the peak incidence occurs in childhood (from two to 15 years old), when the psyche is most unstable and reacts acutely to any emotional overload," Stepanenko said.

She noted that if symptoms of Bruxism appear, it is necessary to visit a neurologist. It is he who will prescribe polysomnography to confirm the diagnosis and recommend vitamin and mineral therapy if the problem is caused by a deficiency of nutrients.

On August 19, Oles Tikhonov, an orthopedic traumatologist and head of the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics at the MedSwiss network of medical centers, said that for joint health, foods such as mackerel, almonds, strawberries, olive oil and broccoli should be in the diet. He noted that salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring are among the main sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects.

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