Every morning, Morgane, 23, woke up with headaches and jaw pain. The pain was sometimes so intense that the young woman was no longer able to fully open her mouth or eat properly. And for good reason. Every night, without realizing it, she clenched and grinded her teeth. A squeak so loud that she damaged her fangs.
Morgane suffers from bruxism, a symptom which consists of clenching or grinding her teeth, during the day or during sleep. “Most cases are nocturnal and occur during the paradoxical sleep phase, which makes the phenomenon uncontrollable,” specifies Christophe Lequart, dental surgeon and spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD).
People suffering from nocturnal bruxism are not aware of it and are often alerted by those close to them, particularly by their partner who shares their bed.
An increase since Covid
Some people consult their dentist following tooth or jaw pain, or even after referral from an osteopath due to back or neck pain. “Dentally, bruxism can lead to wear and even fractures of the teeth,” explains dental surgeon Précilia Ziri. At the joint and muscular level, we notice pain, even clicking or cracking. »
Although it is difficult to obtain exact figures on the number of people who suffer from bruxism (around 10% of the population), dentists have noted an explosion in consultations for this reason, particularly among young people, in recent years.
A symptom linked to anxiety
An increase which can be explained in particular by the fact that the general public is more familiar with this term today. But that’s not all. “The society in which we live is particularly stressful and we know that anxiety is the main cause,” underlines Christophe Lequart. We also had a very significant increase in cases during the Covid period. »
Same explanation from Précilia Ziri, dental surgeon, who cites “a lot of fairly anxiety-provoking events recently”. “I think that these patients are often in control, have difficulty letting go and expressing their emotions and therefore express them through gritted teeth,” analyzes the doctor.
Sandy Cohen, doctor of dental surgery, asks her patients who consult her for bruxism to fill out a medical questionnaire. “I find that I have many more patients taking antidepressants than before. » Among them, some are going through painful life events, such as a separation, or trying periods such as university exams.
But other, more societal factors also play a role in their level of anxiety. “I had a patient who explained to me that he was no longer sleeping at night because of inflation. »
Work to do on yourself
Strictly speaking, there is no cure for bruxism, but there are solutions to prevent it from causing too much damage. If dentists can prescribe a splint and a muscle relaxant to relieve their patients, “work on oneself can sometimes be necessary”, estimates Précilia Ziri who sees “bruxism as a symptom of something”.
She also invites her patients to consult a therapist if necessary. “I open the door but afterward, it’s not my responsibility. » Sandy Cohen explains to those consulting her “that anything that can reduce stress helps reduce bruxism”.
Relaxation, sophrology, yoga, breathing exercises… Everyone has their own method for reducing pressure. Morgane ended up understanding the origin of her bruxism. “I had been suffering from an anxiety-depressive disorder for five years already, but this anxiety was very internalized. » His dentist also explains to him that bruxism can be hereditary. “It was by talking to my parents that I learned that my father had suffered quite a bit from it when he was younger too. »
For three years, Morgane has been sleeping with her splint and, above all, she has managed to treat her anxiety-depressive disorder. “I feel the pain from before much more rarely and my sleep and my quality of life have, in fact, improved a lot. »