Clenched Jaw Symptoms: Causes, Effects, and Treatment Options for Bruxism
What are the common symptoms of a clenched jaw. How does teeth grinding relate to jaw clenching. What causes people to clench their jaw and grind their teeth. What are effective treatments for bruxism and jaw clenching.
Understanding Jaw Clenching and Bruxism
Jaw clenching and teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, are closely related conditions that can cause significant discomfort and dental problems. While some people may experience one without the other, they often occur together.
Bruxism refers to the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, which can happen during sleep (sleep bruxism) or while awake (awake bruxism). Jaw clenching involves tightly contracting the jaw muscles, sometimes without grinding the teeth.
Key Differences Between Jaw Clenching and Teeth Grinding
- Jaw clenching primarily involves muscle tension
- Teeth grinding includes a back-and-forth motion of teeth
- Clenching may occur without grinding, but grinding usually involves clenching
Do all people who clench their jaw grind their teeth? Not necessarily. While the two conditions often co-occur, some individuals may experience jaw clenching without noticeable teeth grinding.
Common Symptoms of Jaw Clenching and Bruxism
Recognizing the signs of jaw clenching and bruxism is crucial for early intervention and treatment. Here are some common symptoms to watch out for:
- Jaw pain or soreness, especially upon waking
- Tight or tense jaw muscles
- Headaches, particularly in the temples
- Earaches or pain around the ear area
- Worn, flattened, or chipped teeth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Difficulty opening the mouth wide
- Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint
- Disrupted sleep or daytime fatigue
- Facial pain or soreness
Are these symptoms always obvious? Not always. Some people may experience mild symptoms or be unaware of their jaw clenching or teeth grinding, especially if it occurs during sleep. Partners or family members may notice the grinding sounds before the individual becomes aware of the problem.
Underlying Causes of Jaw Clenching and Bruxism
Understanding the root causes of jaw clenching and bruxism is essential for effective treatment. While the exact causes can vary from person to person, several factors are commonly associated with these conditions:
Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are among the most common triggers for jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Many people unconsciously tense their jaw muscles in response to emotional or psychological stress.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep-related issues, such as sleep apnea or snoring, can contribute to sleep bruxism. These conditions may cause partial awakenings during sleep, leading to increased muscle activity in the jaw.
Medications
Certain medications, particularly some antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been linked to an increased risk of bruxism.
Lifestyle Factors
Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco can exacerbate jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Recreational drug use, especially stimulants like cocaine or ecstasy, may also contribute to these issues.
Malocclusion
Misaligned teeth or an improper bite (malocclusion) can sometimes lead to jaw clenching or teeth grinding as the body tries to correct the imbalance.
Neurological Conditions
Some neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, can increase the likelihood of developing bruxism.
Is jaw clenching always caused by a single factor? Typically not. In many cases, a combination of factors contributes to the development of jaw clenching and bruxism.
The Impact of Jaw Clenching and Bruxism on Oral Health
Chronic jaw clenching and teeth grinding can have significant consequences for oral health and overall well-being. Understanding these potential impacts can motivate individuals to seek treatment and take preventive measures.
Dental Damage
Persistent grinding can lead to worn-down teeth, chipped or cracked enamel, and increased tooth sensitivity. In severe cases, it may result in loose teeth or even tooth loss.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders
Excessive jaw clenching can strain the temporomandibular joint, leading to temporomandibular disorders (TMD). These conditions can cause chronic pain, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, and a clicking or popping sound in the jaw.
Headaches and Facial Pain
The tension created by jaw clenching often radiates to surrounding muscles, resulting in frequent headaches, particularly in the temple area, and generalized facial pain.
Sleep Disturbances
Nighttime teeth grinding can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue. This can have far-reaching effects on overall health and daily functioning.
Psychological Impact
Chronic pain and sleep disturbances associated with jaw clenching and bruxism can contribute to mood disorders, anxiety, and decreased quality of life.
Can jaw clenching and bruxism cause permanent damage? If left untreated, these conditions can indeed lead to long-term or permanent damage to teeth, jaw joints, and surrounding structures. Early intervention is key to preventing such outcomes.
Diagnosing Jaw Clenching and Bruxism
Proper diagnosis of jaw clenching and bruxism is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan. Healthcare professionals use various methods to identify these conditions:
Clinical Examination
A dentist or doctor will examine the teeth for signs of wear, assess jaw muscle tenderness, and evaluate the range of motion in the jaw joint.
Patient History
Healthcare providers will inquire about symptoms, sleep patterns, stress levels, and lifestyle factors that may contribute to jaw clenching or teeth grinding.
Sleep Study
In some cases, particularly when sleep bruxism is suspected, a sleep study (polysomnography) may be recommended to monitor muscle activity during sleep.
Imaging Tests
X-rays, CT scans, or MRI may be used to assess the condition of the teeth, jaw joint, and surrounding structures.
How accurate are these diagnostic methods? While clinical examinations and patient history provide valuable information, sleep studies offer the most definitive diagnosis for sleep bruxism. However, awake bruxism can be more challenging to diagnose and may rely more heavily on patient reporting and clinical observations.
Treatment Options for Jaw Clenching and Bruxism
Managing jaw clenching and bruxism often requires a multifaceted approach. Treatment options can range from self-care strategies to professional interventions:
Dental Appliances
Custom-fitted night guards or splints are often the first line of treatment. These devices create a barrier between the upper and lower teeth, preventing damage from grinding and reducing muscle tension.
Stress Management
Since stress is a common trigger, stress reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or cognitive-behavioral therapy can be beneficial.
Medications
In some cases, muscle relaxants or Botox injections may be prescribed to alleviate jaw muscle tension. Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications might be considered if psychological factors are contributing to the problem.
Physical Therapy
Exercises and techniques to relax the jaw muscles and improve jaw alignment can help reduce clenching and grinding.
Lifestyle Changes
Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and improving sleep hygiene can all contribute to reducing bruxism.
Dental Corrections
In cases where malocclusion is contributing to the problem, dental work to correct bite issues may be recommended.
Are these treatments equally effective for everyone? The effectiveness of treatments can vary depending on the individual and the underlying causes of their jaw clenching or bruxism. A combination of approaches is often most successful.
Prevention Strategies for Jaw Clenching and Bruxism
While not all cases of jaw clenching and bruxism can be prevented, there are several strategies that can help reduce the risk or severity of these conditions:
Stress Reduction
Implementing regular stress-management practices, such as mindfulness meditation or regular exercise, can help prevent stress-induced jaw clenching.
Proper Sleep Hygiene
Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating a relaxing bedtime routine can improve sleep quality and reduce nighttime bruxism.
Avoiding Triggers
Limiting consumption of caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, especially in the evening, may help prevent jaw clenching and teeth grinding.
Relaxation Techniques
Practicing jaw relaxation exercises and being mindful of jaw position throughout the day can help reduce muscle tension.
Regular Dental Check-ups
Regular visits to the dentist can help catch early signs of bruxism and prevent long-term damage.
Can jaw clenching and bruxism be completely prevented? While complete prevention may not always be possible, especially for individuals with a genetic predisposition or certain medical conditions, these strategies can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of jaw clenching and bruxism episodes.
Long-term Management and Prognosis
Managing jaw clenching and bruxism is often an ongoing process that requires commitment and patience. Here’s what to expect in terms of long-term management and prognosis:
Consistent Treatment
Many individuals find that they need to continue using night guards or practicing relaxation techniques indefinitely to manage their symptoms effectively.
Regular Monitoring
Periodic dental check-ups are crucial to assess the effectiveness of treatment and make adjustments as needed.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Long-term success often involves maintaining stress-reduction practices and healthy sleep habits as part of daily life.
Potential for Improvement
With proper management, many people experience significant reduction in symptoms and prevention of further dental damage.
Addressing Underlying Causes
Long-term success may depend on identifying and addressing root causes, such as stress or sleep disorders.
What is the typical prognosis for individuals with jaw clenching and bruxism? The prognosis is generally good with proper treatment and management. Many people can significantly reduce their symptoms and prevent further complications. However, complete elimination of the condition may not always be possible, especially in cases with strong genetic or neurological components.
In conclusion, jaw clenching and bruxism are complex conditions that can have significant impacts on oral health and overall well-being. By understanding the symptoms, causes, and treatment options, individuals can take proactive steps to manage these issues effectively. With proper care and ongoing management, it’s possible to minimize the negative effects of jaw clenching and bruxism and maintain good oral health.
Teeth grinding (bruxism) – NHS
Teeth grinding (also called bruxism) is often related to stress or anxiety. There are things you can do to help and treatments available from a dentist or GP.
Causes of teeth grinding
It’s not always clear what causes people to grind their teeth.
It’s often linked to:
- stress and anxiety – this is the most common cause of teeth grinding
- sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnoea
- taking certain medicines, including a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- smoking, drinking lots of alcohol and caffeine, and taking drugs like ecstasy and cocaine
Teeth grinding is common in children and teenagers, particularly during sleep. It often stops when they reach adulthood and their adult teeth have come through.
How to reduce teeth grinding
There are a number of things you can try that may help if you grind your teeth.
Do
find ways to relax – for example, by doing breathing exercises, listening to music and taking regular exercise
try to improve your sleep by going to bed at the same time every night, relaxing before bedtime and making sure your bedroom is dark and quiet
take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have jaw pain or swelling
use an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel for 20 to 30 minutes to help reduce jaw pain or swelling
have regular dental check-ups
Don’t
do not smoke
do not drink too much alcohol
do not take drugs like ecstasy or cocaine
do not chew gum or eat hard foods if you have tooth or jaw pain
Symptoms of teeth grinding
Teeth grinding can happen while you’re awake or asleep.
As well as grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw, other symptoms can include:
- face, neck and shoulder pain
- a painful jaw, which can lead to a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
- worn-down or broken teeth, which can cause increased sensitivity and loss of teeth and fillings
- headaches
- earache
- disturbed sleep
Non-urgent advice: See a dentist if:
- you grind your teeth and have tooth damage or sensitive teeth
- you grind your teeth and have pain in your jaw, face or ear
- your partner says you’re grinding your teeth in your sleep
- you’re worried about your child grinding their teeth
See a GP if you need help with some of the causes of teeth grinding, such as stress, anxiety, smoking, drinking too much or taking drugs.
Treatments for teeth grinding
Treatment for teeth grinding is not always needed.
Treatments from a dentist
A dentist may recommend a mouth guard or mouth splint.
These are worn at night and protect your teeth from damage. They can be made by a dentist to fit precisely over your upper or lower teeth
Treatments from a GP
A GP can give you advice and recommend treatments for reducing stress.
They will also be able to help if you want to give up smoking, or if you need advice about drug addiction or cutting down on alcohol.
Page last reviewed: 27 June 2022
Next review due: 27 June 2025
Why Jaw Clenching Happens & How To Stop It
If you’re noticing pain or tightness in your jaw, are struggling to open your mouth wide, or commonly experience “temple” headaches, it may be caused by excessive jaw clenching.
In this article, we explore the symptoms of jaw clenching, how it relates to teeth grinding (known as bruxism), what causes the issue, and offer some home and professional remedies to give you relief.
What is jaw clenching?
Jaw clenching is an excessive clenching of your jaws, which can be accompanied by teeth grinding. This may happen at night, during the day, or both, and lead to pain and tightness in your jaw, damaged teeth, and facial disorders like TMJ or TMD.
People who clench their jaw excessively may not necessarily grind their teeth, but the two often go hand in hand.
Jaw clenching symptoms
Excessive jaw clenching can be a difficult thing to identify, especially if it’s happening at night when you’re asleep. But there’s some telltale jaw clenching symptoms that will help you diagnose the problem. The most obvious of these is having jaw pain, usually accompanied by a feeling of tightness. If you experience this when you wake up in the morning, there’s a good chance you’ve been clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth during the night. If you sleep with a partner, they may also hear your teeth grinding at night.
People who clench their jaws may also have difficulty opening their mouths wide, due to the tightness and pain caused by excessive clenching. This can lead to headaches (particularly those that start in the temples) as well as earaches. If you grind your teeth at night, you may find that you often wake up feeling tired, in which case you should consider talking to a specialist about a potential disorder like sleep apnea (we discuss the full range of treatment options below).
Finally, the last glaring sign of excessive jaw clenching is having worn or loose teeth, or broken fillings. Although this is usually a severe case, and should be addressed immediately to prevent further damage to your precious teeth.
Jaw clenching causes
Jaw clenching is usually caused by emotional issues like stress and anxiety. Muscle tension is a common symptom of these emotions, which can include a consistent clenching of your jaw, leading to some of the issues described above.
For bruxism, misaligned teeth are another common cause, because they can rub together more easily.
Other potential causes for jaw clenching (or things that can make it worse) include:
- Clenching your teeth when focusing on something difficult. This can quickly form into a bad habit.
- Taking stimulating drugs like ecstasy and amphetamine, or cocaine to a lesser extent.
- Other illnesses or disorders like sleep apnea, ADHD, Parkinson’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), epilepsy, and night terrors.
- Drinking alcohol. This can trigger your jaw muscles to hyperactivate, leading to teeth nighttime grinding.
- Smoking. In one study, young heavy smokers were more than twice as likely to experience bruxism1.
- Nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of vitamin D and calcium2.
- Dehydration
- SSRI antidepressants
Jaw clenching is most common in children, adolescents, and young adults, but tends to go away when getting older. It might also be found more commonly in people who have an aggressive, hyperactive, or competitive personality type.
How to stop clenching your jaw—home remedies
There’s a few home remedies on how to stop clenching your jaw, but their effectiveness will depend on the cause of your jaw clenching. If you suspect it’s caused by being overly stressed or anxious, it’s best to incorporate some relaxing routines into your life, like meditation, reading, listening to soothing music, and getting regular massages. If possible, you should also consider fixing the source of the stress itself.
If you clench your jaw at night, focusing on your sleep hygiene can help a lot. There’s plenty you can do to get a better night’s rest, including:
- Drinking less caffeine during the day (particularly after 2 pm), or cutting it out completely.
- Getting more aerobic exercise during the day.
- Getting between 30 to 60 minutes of direct sunlight each day in order to encourage a healthy circadian rhythm. This works best between the hours of 6 am and 9 am3. Be sure to use sunscreen to protect against skin cancer.
- Avoid your screens like your phone and television two hours before going to bed. These devices emit blue light, which your brain identifies as sunlight, and blocks melatonin production (the hormone that regulates your circadian rhythm).
- Have a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends.
If you catch yourself grinding during the day, you can try putting the tip of your tongue between your teeth each time. With persistence, a habit will form that prevents you from clenching your jaw.
Jaw clenching treatment—professional remedies
Your first port of call with jaw clenching is a visit to the dentist. By assessing damage to your teeth, they can give you some idea of how badly you clench your jaw, and whether it has led to issues like TMJ or TMD. They’ll fix any damaged teeth you may have, and also be able to provide you with a mouth guard to wear at night (if this is when the clenching usually happens). If the problem is severe enough, and the dentist has the necessary qualifications, they may even recommend botox injections to relax your jaw muscles.
The dentist may recommend that you visit a GP, to address other issues outside of their scope. A GP can get a better understanding of whether your jaw clenching is stress-related, and potentially refer you to a therapist to improve your mental health. They might also recommend a relaxation therapist to teach you how to voluntarily relax your jaw muscles, as well as a sleep specialist to improve your sleep hygiene.
Finally, the last professional treatment that can help with jaw clenching is a head and neck massage, which helps to relax the muscles in those areas and reduce any pain or tension you’re feeling.
References
- K. Rintakoski, D.D.S., J. Ahlberg, D.D.S., Ph.D., C. Hublin, M.D., Ph.D., F. Lobbezoo, D.D.S., Ph.D., R. J. Rose, Ph.D., H. Murtomaa, D.D.S., Ph.D., and J. Kaprio, M.D., Ph. D, Tobacco use and reported bruxism in young adults: A nationwide Finnish Twin Cohort Study, Nicotine & Tobacco Research
- Mohammad J Alkhatatbeh, Zainab L Hmoud, Khalid K Abdul-Razzak, Esam M Alem, Self-reported sleep bruxism is associated with vitamin D deficiency and low dietary calcium intake: a case-control study, BMC Oral Health
- Bright Light Therapy, Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia
causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment
Types of bruxism
There are three forms of bruxism:
Noisy bruxism or grinding. Grinding of the teeth occurs when the chewing muscles and lower jaw move. The long course of the disease is dangerous pathological abrasion of teeth.
Silent bruxism or clenching of teeth. A typical symptom is a tightly clenched jaw without extraneous sounds. To a lesser extent provokes a decrease in enamel. More often leads to the formation of cracks in the tooth enamel.
mixed form. Combines the features of the two forms described above.
Depending on the time of occurrence of dental grinding, bruxism is divided into daytime, nighttime and combined (episodes are repeated regardless of the time of day).
Causes of bruxism
In infants, bruxism is regarded as a variant of the norm. In this way, the child tries to reduce the intensity of the discomfort associated with the eruption of milk teeth.
Help! The prevalence of bruxism in children under 7 years of age is 50-80%. The second peak of the disease occurs at the age of 13–18 years.
At any other age, the manifestation of teeth grinding is based on a combination of several causes:
hereditary predisposition. The chance of bruxism in a child is 50% higher if first-line relatives suffered from this disease.
dental factors. Episodes of involuntary teeth grinding provoke congenital and acquired disorders in the structure and functioning of the dental system. Due to the deformation and trauma of the teeth, malocclusion, developmental anomalies, the jaws do not completely close, and in order to ensure the coordinated operation of the chewing apparatus, the muscles come into tone, the muscle fibers involuntarily contract. Poor-quality dental treatment, incorrectly selected prostheses and braces, arthritis and arthrosis of the temporomandibular joint initiate bruxism.
Diseases of the nervous system. Teeth grinding can occur as a result of birth or traumatic brain injury, damage to the central nervous system during fetal development or during childbirth (perinatal encephalopathy).
Pathology of ENT organs. At risk are patients who have permanently disturbed nasal breathing due to adenoids, deviated nasal septum, chronic rhinitis.
Disorders of the psyche and behavior. Stress, neurosis, anxiety and constant experiences provoke an involuntary spasm of the masticatory muscles and gnashing of teeth. Bruxism occurs in people who constantly experience psycho-emotional overstrain, have a negative emotional mood.
neurological and movement disorders. A favorable condition for the manifestation of bruxism is considered deviations in the activity of the central and peripheral nervous system. The course of bruxism is often accompanied by sleep disturbance: nightmares, snoring, short-term respiratory arrest (apnea), enuresis. Tonic spasm of masticatory muscles (trismus) and bruxism occur due to damage to the motor neurons of the trigeminal nerve. Teeth grinding is one of the symptoms of neurological complications associated with the use of neuroleptic drugs (antipsychotics).
Other causes of bruxism are not widely recognized, but they do exist. These include: reflux esophagitis (reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus), helminthic invasions, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. In the occurrence of bruxism, bad habits are of some importance: smoking, alcohol addiction, coffee and chewing gum abuse, and malnutrition.
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Symptoms of bruxism
Episodes of bruxism are accompanied by grinding and tapping of teeth. The attack lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. During the night can be repeated many times. Usually a similar symptom is observed by parents or spouses, since a person does not control his condition during sleep. After multiple nocturnal episodes of bruxism, the next morning the patient feels facial muscle and jaw pain, dizziness, headache, lack of sleep.
Daytime bruxism is characterized by uncontrollable clenching of the teeth. Usually, a spasm of the masticatory muscles provokes some kind of stressful situation or event that requires prolonged concentration: playing on a computer, doing homework.
Help! If teeth grinding occurs during sleep, then this is bruxism. If the episodes recur during the daytime, this condition is regarded as bruxiomania.
With a combination of daytime and nighttime bruxism, the patient has concomitant symptoms:
instability in behavior
headache and dizziness,
problems with sleep and falling asleep,
pain and ringing in the ears
daytime sleepiness,
biting a pencil and pen,
frequent use of chewing gum,
discomfort when closing teeth,
waking up exhausted.
With a long course of bruxism, a pathological decrease in the enamel of individual or all teeth develops, chips and cracks in the enamel, fillings and dentures are formed, the sensitivity of the teeth to cold, hot, salty, sweet is exacerbated.
Injury to the periodontal tissues provokes inflammation of the periodontium (tissues surrounding the tooth), followed by mobility and premature loss of the tooth. Gingivitis, stomatitis, oral fibroma are the consequences of constant traumatization of the oral mucosa.
Complications of bruxism
Long-term undesirable consequences include dysfunction of the TMJ. This is a violation of the temporomandibular joint. The condition is accompanied by pain in the temples, neck, head, inability to open the mouth wide, clicks in the joint when yawning and chewing. The disease without treatment is dangerous by the development of arthrosis and immobilization of the temporomandibular joint.
Chronic nocturnal bruxism is complicated by pain in the muscles of the back and neck, migraine, dizziness. Almost 80% of patients experience toothache, 65% have injuries to the tongue, lips and inner surface of the cheeks.
Bruxism diagnostics
Bruxism is confirmed by the dentist on the basis of dental examination data, complaints of the patient or his relatives about the grinding of teeth. When examining the oral cavity, the doctor detects characteristic changes: a wedge-shaped defect, malocclusion, trauma to the tongue and mucous membranes of the cheeks, lips, violation of the integrity of the enamel or dental structures. On palpation, there is tension in the muscles of the face, pain in the area of the temporomandibular joint.
For an objective assessment of bruxism, brux checkers are used. These are special caps made on the basis of a cast and model of the patient’s jaw in order to determine unwanted occlusal contacts of the teeth of the upper and lower jaws. After wearing the mouth guard at night, it is transferred to the laboratory for analysis and determination of which teeth are under increased stress.
Polysomnography is used to diagnose bruxism. Before going to bed, special sensors are applied to the patient’s body, which record any movements, brain activity, mobility of the temporomandibular joint. In patients with bruxism, the pathological activity of the masticatory muscles is determined.
To identify the true cause of teeth grinding, specialists of a different profile are often involved – a neurologist, otolaryngologist, gastroenterologist, psychologist.
Treatment of bruxism
Usually in young children, bruxism does not require special treatment, as it resolves on its own by the age of 7 years. To get rid of a pathological habit for adults, they use an integrated approach with the appointment of conservative therapy, dental treatment, psycho- and physiotherapy.
General recommendations for all groups of patients are fortified nutrition, moderate physical activity, alternating work and rest. It is also important to limit coffee and caffeinated drinks, alcohol, tobacco, and, if possible, eliminate stress and anxiety.
Conservative therapy
With bruxism aggravated by neurological disorders, anticonvulsant and nootropic drugs, neurovitamins of group B, and brain metabolites are prescribed. The course of treatment is long, from 2 to 4 months under the supervision of a neurologist.
To reduce the activity of the muscles of the masticatory muscles, calcium and magnesium preparations are used, to normalize the quality of sleep and eliminate anxiety, light sedatives and hypnotics are used. Treatment is supplemented with multivitamin complexes to reduce recovery time, strengthen immunity.
Dental treatment
At the first stage, caries and periodontal inflammation, if any, are treated. Further, according to an individual cast, a protective cap is made of soft plastic and rubber. A cap is put on the upper teeth to prevent their friction against the lower teeth, to prevent the destruction of the enamel.
After eliminating the causes and manifestations of bruxism, dentists are involved in the restoration of wedge-shaped defects, the installation of fillings, the manufacture of crowns, prostheses or veneers.
Psychotherapy
Psychological methods of influence come to the fore if the cause of bruxism is unfavorable psychological factors and events. Psychotherapy helps to identify and understand conflicts, change attitudes towards a stress factor, develop skills to cope with the difficulties of life more effectively and environmentally for the body. For this, methods of relaxation and self-control, trainings, art therapy, dance and movement therapy are used.
Physiotherapy
To enhance the functional activity of the muscles of the jaw, neck and collar zone, sessions of electrical stimulation of the muscles of the masticatory muscles are prescribed (exposure to direct and alternating current pulses). In some cases, manual therapy, massage, acupuncture, magnetotherapy, warm compresses on the jaw area show a good effect.
Prevention of bruxism
Prevention of bruxism is not specific, and involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle, getting rid of bad habits, learning self-control and forming the right life position.
Timely treatment of diseases of the nervous system minimizes the risk of bruxism. It is necessary to monitor your psycho-emotional state or the child, and, if necessary, seek psychological help.
An important link in the prevention of bruxism is a regular preventive examination 1-2 times a year at the dentist. Timely diagnosis of pathologies and the choice of adequate treatment can permanently get rid of this pathological habit.
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Bruxism in adults and children: causes and treatment
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Everyone is subject to stress. Nervous shock does not pass without a trace, the functionality of the body is disturbed. Dentists have noted a sharp increase in the incidence of bruxism in both adults and children.
Bruxism is a disease that causes the masticatory muscles to contract involuntarily, which tightens the jaw and gnashes the teeth.
A sharp contraction may last from a few seconds to several minutes. The attack is also accompanied by increased pressure, increased heart rate and respiratory failure. The specificity of the disease is such that it can manifest itself at any age. Bruxism in children is more common than in adults, but no one will give exact numbers. Most people are unaware of grinding their teeth at night in their sleep.
Bruxism, the causes of which are still not clearly defined, is caused by a sleep disorder. Doctors believe that aggressive people who hide anger relax only in their sleep, which is why bruxism manifests itself. Symptoms are also noticeable in people who have problems with bite, a violation of the structure of the face.
If you have identified brussism and its manifestation has no definite reasons, then it is worth visiting a doctor and undergoing an examination. The neglected form is dangerous by the occurrence of an epileptic attack, and the rattle irritates others. For people with bruxism, understanding and awareness of the need for medical care is important.
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- pathology of the lower jaw joint;
- teeth grinding;
- malocclusion;
- tooth hypersensitivity;
- brittle teeth, prone to fracture;
- frequent headaches, migraines;
- painful contractions of the facial muscles.
Bruxism is divided into day and night.
Nocturnal bruxism is more common and occurs during sleep. During the night, there may be several attacks, accompanied by strong clenching of the jaw and gnashing. Daytime bruxism is less common, but attacks correspond to nighttime ones.
Children’s bruxism is not much of a problem, and it’s more like a bad habit of grinding your teeth. But parents should pay attention, if the rattle is heard in a dream and the attack lasts more than 15 seconds, then this is dangerous for the rapid wear of teeth and damage to soft tissues. Severe attacks lead to the rise of the child with a severe headache and pain throughout the jaw. Such symptoms indicate that an urgent need to visit a doctor, only a qualified specialist will determine the severity of the disease and prescribe the right treatment.
An accurate diagnosis can be made using electromyography. Sensors are attached to the maxillofacial region and record impulses in a calm state and during chewing. According to the results, the doctor determines the severity of the disease, the nature and chooses a treatment strategy. It is also worth following some rules and watching your jaw. When closing, the upper and lower teeth should not touch. During the day, you should monitor your teeth and, in case of tension, try to relax your jaw. The right way to heal is to avoid stress. You need to learn self-control.
Teeth bruxism is also treated with the help of special caps, overlays on the teeth, which prevent their damage during attacks. Non-removable tires will allow you to set the head of the joint in the correct position and prevent muscle spasm, excessive pressure on the jaw. Any devices have the right to appoint and install a dentist, so come to us, we will restore the health of your teeth.
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