Bruxism and Teeth Grinding Glossary
A glossary with all the terms you need to understand as you get familiar with the world of bruxism.
All the terms you need to understand as you get familiar with the world of bruxism.
| Word | Meaning | Synonyms |
| Aetiology | The cause or set of causes of a disease or condition. | |
| Attrition | Tooth wear caused by tooth-to-tooth contact. | |
| Biofeedback | A technique used to help individuals control bodily processes that are typically involuntary, like muscle tension. | |
| Botox | A treatment option for severe bruxism. | Botulinum Toxin |
| Bruxism | Involuntary habitual grinding of the teeth, typically during sleep. | teeth grinding |
| Clenching | The act of holding the teeth together tightly, common in bruxism. | gurning, gnashing |
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) | A form of psychotherapy that can be used to manage stress and anxiety, which are potential triggers of bruxism. | |
| Dental Erosion | The loss of tooth structure due to chemical dissolution by acids. | |
| Dental Night Guard | A removable, custom-fitted plastic appliance that fits between the upper and lower teeth to prevent them from grinding against each other. | bite splint, occlusal splint, dental splint, night guard, occlusal guard, bruxism guard, TMJ guard, mouth protector |
| Dentin | The layer of the tooth beneath the enamel. | |
| Dentures | A removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Bruxism can cause complications for those who wear dentures. | False teeth, dental prosthetics, dental plates, overdenture |
| Electromyography (EMG) | A diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them (motor neurons), used in some sleep studies to detect bruxism. | |
| Enamel | The hard, outermost layer of a tooth. | |
| Endodontics | The branch of dentistry concerned with the morphology, physiology, and pathology of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues. | |
| Fractures | Broken or cracked teeth, which can result from severe bruxism. | |
| Genetics | The study of genes, heredity, and genetic variation in living organisms. There might be a genetic component to bruxism. | |
| Gingivitis | Gum disease that can be worsened by bruxism. | |
| Gnashing | Similar to grinding, often associated with stress or anger. | |
| Hypertrophy | Enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or part of the body, such as the masseter muscle in bruxism. | |
| Hypnosis | A technique that can be used to manage and reduce bruxism. | |
| Hypnotherapy | A type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help individuals relax and focus, sometimes used to manage bruxism. | |
| Insomnia | Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, often linked with bruxism. | |
| Malocclusion | Misalignment of teeth or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches. | |
| Mandible | Lower jaw bone | |
| Masseter Muscle | A facial muscle that plays a key role in closing the jaw, often overworked in bruxism. | |
| Maxilla | Upper jaw bone | |
| Muscle Relaxants | Medications that can be used to manage bruxism. | |
| Neurotransmitters | Chemical messengers in the brain, some of which may play a role in bruxism. | |
| Occlusion | The alignment of teeth when the jaws are closed. | |
| Orthodontic Treatment | Treatment to correct teeth and jaw alignment, sometimes required in bruxism cases. | |
| Pediatric Bruxism | Teeth grinding in children. | |
| Periodontal Disease | An infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place, which can be exacerbated by bruxism. | |
| Periodontics | The branch of dentistry concerned with structures surrounding and supporting the teeth. | |
| Pharmacotherapy | The treatment of disease through the administration of drugs, sometimes used in bruxism cases. | |
| Polysomnography | A type of sleep study, often used to diagnose sleep disorders such as bruxism. | |
| Prosthodontics | Dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues. | |
| Psychotherapy | Therapy used to manage psychological triggers of bruxism. | |
| Restorative Dentistry | Dental care aimed at managing tooth damage, often needed for bruxism patients. | |
| Sleep Apnea | A serious sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts. | |
| Sleep Diary | A record of an individual's sleeping and waking times with related information, usually over a period of several weeks. | |
| Sleep Disorders | Conditions that disrupt a person's sleep. | |
| Sleep Hygiene | Practices and habits that promote good sleep health, often recommended for bruxism patients. | |
| Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) | The joint that connects the jaw to the skull. | |
| Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) | A condition that can cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles controlling jaw movement. Bruxism can lead to TMD. | |
| Tooth Sensitivity | A common symptom of bruxism due to the wear of tooth enamel. | |
| Xerostomia | Dry mouth, a potential side effect of medications used to treat bruxism. | Cotton mouth, dry mouth |