Worries, overwork, the stress of getting to everything … The body needs to find escape routes to all the nerves of the day to day and grinding the teeth is one of them. But in excess and without treatment it can lead to significant problems, even beyond tooth wear. Do you feel identified? So, keep reading …
What is bruxism?
Grinding the teeth becomes a problem (and is called bruxism) when it is done for long periods of time, with great intensity and involuntarily.
Dentists distinguish two types of bruxism: daytime, closely related to stress, and which, although difficult, it is possible to control it; and nocturnal bruxism, which occurs while sleeping, completely unconsciously, and causes sleep disturbances. It is impossible for the person to control it on their own and therefore needs treatment.
The joint that connects the jaw to the skull is called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). To locate it, put your fingers in front of your ear and touch the "ball" that moves when you open and close your mouth. People who clench their teeth too much have discomfort in that area that can radiate to the head, ear or neck.
How can I know if I have bruxism?
- Your teeth are worn out. It is the main consequence of the constant friction of the teeth. Some parts may even break.
- Your partner says you make noises. If you clench your teeth at night you will not notice that you are making a noise characteristic of bruxists.
- You have greater dental sensitivity to cold. Loss of enamel can expose dentin, causing increased sensitivity.
- You feel dizzy or dizzy. They are usually caused by cervical impingement derived from dental clenching.
- Your mouth opening is poor. Some people feel that they cannot open or close their mouth as wide as before.
- Your jaw "cracks." When you open your mouth wide to sing, yawn, or brush your teeth, you may notice a click in your muscles. If this happens, check with your dentist to assess possible damage to the jaw.
- You have had a crash. It means that your mouth stays open for a while and you can't close it. Whether or not it ends at that time, you should go to the dentist as soon as possible to rule out a serious problem that affects the jaw joint (TMJ).
What symptoms do you have?
- Stitching in the jaw. Due to the overstrain made when clenching the teeth.
- Headache. In the same way that the jaw contracts when clenching, so do the muscles of the head, causing a pressure that some people equate to wearing a helmet.
- Discomfort in the ears The structures of the TMJ are very close to the eardrum, so its contracture can sometimes manifest as an earache or as tinnitus (hearing a continuous ringing).
- Cervical problems The head is attached to the cervical spine, which means that any contracture of the musculature that moves the jaw can cause a contracture in the cervical musculature and vice versa.
The best remedies
- Discharge splint. It is transparent and is made to measure, with a mold of your teeth. It is the only treatment to prevent teeth from contacting each other and helps to relax the muscles of the jaw. Its use is limited to the night and the dentist decides whether to place it in the upper or lower arch. Its price: from € 200 to € 400.
- Learn to listen to yourself. During daytime bruxism it is important that you become aware of when you clench your teeth and then stop doing it.
- Practice relaxation techniques. The further you remove stress from your life, the less you clench your teeth. Learn to relax and beat stress by following these 5 steps.
- Relieves muscle pain. Apply cold or heat to the jaw muscles when it hurts.
- Frictions. Place the tips of your thumbs on your cheekbones and slide them towards the back of your jaw, towards your ears. Make three passes through the zone slowly and deeply.
- Kneading. Grit your teeth to locate where the jaw muscle is marked. At rest, place the tips of your index and middle fingers at that point and make circular movements.
- Stretching. In the morning, when you wake up, open your mouth. Depending on the degree of mouth opening you have, insert 2, 3 or 4 fingers. Do 10-15 reps.
- Correct the way you bite. The more aligned and homogeneous your teeth are, the less damage you will cause when clenching.
If you overload the jaw joint, avoid all those actions that wear it down even more.
- Do not abuse the gum. Chewing it requires constant and constant use of the joint. The same is true if you chew meat or other food for a long time.
- Avoid hard foods. Like thick crust bread or kikos. They make you strain your jaw.
- Don't nibble on nails or pens. They seem like harmless habits, but they uselessly wear down the joint, preventing it from resting.
