Bruxism is a medical term to describe teeth grinding. In a little more detail it covers a range of actions that involve the teeth, the jaw the muscles of the jaw and the temperomandibular joint ( TMJ ).
The symptoms can range from a mild disturbance to pain so severe that patients can not sleep or work.

It can effect children and adults but main age range is 25-45.

Two main types..

Daytime or awake Bruxism..this usually involves just a clenching of the jaw in response to a stimuli .
Asleep bruxism occurs when one is asleep and often involves jaw clenching combined with a grinding of the teeth and contraction of the jaw muscles . Usually there is an associated noise as the teeth move over each other.

What are the causes ?

Bruxism has a multitude of causes and it can be difficult to highlight one as the main cause, however a few of the causes discussed are:

1. Incorrect tooth alignment. If your teeth are not in the correct position then it can lead to the teeth meeting in a different position. This leads to the muscles attached to the jaw being stretched in a way they are not comfortable and this can lead to muscular pains such as head and neck ache. The teeth receive a message from the brain indicating the discrepancy in the bite and try to grind their way to a more comfortable position. This in turn leads to more symptoms, and so in turn leads to more pain. The best way to correct this is to move the teeth back in to a correct position, from something as simple as a minor filing of the tops of the teeth ( occlusal equilibration) or to Orthodontics ( braces). The orthodontic process is usually reserved for extreme cases.
2. Stress. Just like mouth ulcers, cold sores and stomach ulcers all increase propensity with onset of stress. So does the occurrence of bruxism, as a result the best way to treat this cause would be to find ways to de-stress. The largest cause of bruxism is stress related. Exercise and life changes to encourage a more relaxed environment would help …though not always possible !
3. other conditions…there is a strong link to Obstructive Sleep Apnea and patients who suffer from this also get episodes of bruxism in the night.
4. Stimulants ….regular users of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and caffeine ( more than 6 cups a day)….all of these stimuli can cause disturbed sleep which can result in increased occurrence of bruxism.

What are the symptoms ?

They are wide ranging but main ones are
• Soreness from muscles of the head and neck
• More sensitive teeth, if they begin to wear down
• Clicking or popping noises from the jaw joint
• Lock jaw when jaw is opened wide
• Headaches, neckaches and shoulder pains
• Limited opening of the jaw
• Earaches

What are the treatments?

There is wide debate in the dental community as to what is the best treatment. The truth is that the most important part is that the patient is seen by the dentist and a thorough history is taken. This allows the dentist to identify most obvious reasons for this bruxism and the extent it impinges on the patients life.

Models and photographs of the teeth should be taken, as well as listening to any noises of the jaw joint. A simple night time splint can be worn to take the load off the joint and also balance the way the two jaws meet. This is called an Occlusal splint and has the effect of reducing the load on the muscles. A splint is a laboratory constructed plastic that is hardened and designed bespoke to each patient to accommodate and reduce the effects of grinding. It can be quite dramatic how much it can improve and how quickly this is noticed.

Additional treatments could include anti stress medication, orthodontics to move the teeth and lifestyle changes.

We at Woodcock Lane Dental Care are proud to support Circus Starr – the circus with a purpose.

We are delighted to have been able to support our local Stroud and Stonehouse community by buying and donating tickets for disadvantaged and disabled children and their families to go this fantastic event that was held in a big top at Cheltenham Racecourse at the weekend.

Circus Starr is a touring circus boasting world-class, professional artists from across the globe. It was first founded in 1987 to help raise much needed funds for local charities whilst providing free seats for thousands of disadvantaged, disabled or vulnerable children.  

All of us at Woodcock Lane Dental Care are getting behind the UK’s largest and longest-running oral health campaign this month in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of good oral health.

National Smile Month was established in 1977 and is the UK’s biggest annual oral health campaign. The campaign is sponsored by headline sponsors Invisalign, Wrigleys and Oral-B. The campaign, which runs from 18 May to 18 June 2015, is also being supported by Denplan, the UK’s leading dental payment plan specialist. The campaign promotes three key messages for great oral health:

• Brush your teeth last thing at night and on at least one other occasion that day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks
• Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend

If you would like to improve your smile, we would be delighted to help you. Jackie, our hygienist, is able to look after the health of your gums and polish your teeth. David Lyons and Frank Moran, our dentists, are able to provide not only routine dental care but also cosmetic treatments such as tooth coloured fillings, veneers and crowns and tooth whitening. David is also able to offer tooth straightening and  James MacDonald, our visiting dental implant dentist is able to offer dental implants.

If you are interested in any of our services, our friendly reception team are on hand to answer any queries or questions on 01453 828327.

Happy smiling 🙂

This year Wednesday 11th March marks the British Heart Foundation’s No Smoking Day.

At Woodcock Lane Dental Care we are supporting one of the country’s biggest health awareness campaigns, designed to encourage current smokers to quit by providing readily available support and advice.

Most people know that smoking has been linked to causing heart disease and cancer but not as many people realise the degree to which smoking affects their oral health too. Here’s a list of known problems smokers encounter:

• Bad breath
• Tooth discolouration
• Increased build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth
• Increased risk of developing gum disease
• Delayed healing process following tooth extraction, periodontal disease, or oral surgery
• Lower success rate of dental implant procedures
• Increased risk of developing oral cancer

No Smoking Day presents us with an opportunity to explain how stopping smoking can benefit the person. Within the first month of giving up an ex-smoker will begin to experience the following:

• Improved sense of smell
• Improved sense of taste
• More energy
• Whiter teeth
• Better breathing
• Fresher breath
• Younger looking skin
• Healthier sex life
• Lowered stress levels
• Saving money

Regular visits to your dental team are essential to look after your teeth and gums, and even more so if you’re a smoker. Your dentist is best-placed to help you combat the effects of smoking, and to spot any other conditions that may need further investigation.

No Smoking Day will hopefully help to raise awareness across the UK that if you are a smoker and you would like to quit this year, March 11^th would be a good time to try as you won’t be alone

To find out more about No Smoking Day and for help and advice on kicking the habit, visit the official campaign website. https://nosmokingday.org.uk/

Mouth cancer is one of the top ten most commonly diagnosed cancers and accounts for more than 7,800 new cases a year. Over the past 10 years the incidence of mouth cancer has risen by 25%. The early signs of mouth cancer can often be seen and when it is found early there is a better chance of surviving it.

MOUTH CANCER – KNOW THE SIGNS:-

• an ulcer or sore in your mouth that lasts longer than three weeks
• persistent discomfort or pain in the mouth
• a red or white patch in your mouth that lasts longer than three weeks
• an unexplained lump in your mouth or neck
• a sore or painful throat lasting more than three weeks
• a long-lasting croaky voice or difficulty swallowing
• numbness of your tongue or mouth
• neck swelling that lasts more than 3 weeks

Lumps and ulcers in the mouth are very common and usually get better on their own. Changes that last longer than three weeks could be serious and should be reported to your doctor or dentist without delay. It probably won’t be mouth cancer, but if it is, detecting it early gives a better chance of successful treatment.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK:-

• be a non-smoker – smokers are more than three times more likely to develop mouth cancer than non-smokers

• avoid chewing tobacco or betel nut quids

• cut down on alcohol – the more you cut down on alcohol, the more you reduce the risk of mouth cancer. People who use tobacco and alcohol have the highest risk of mouth cancer.

• visit your dentist regularly:- a mouth cancer check is part of your dental examination

 Visit your dentist or doctor at once if you notice any abnormal

 problems or are not sure.