What Causes Teeth Grinding?
There are several factors that can contribute to teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Stress and anxiety are among the most common causes, particularly for individuals who carry tension throughout the day. Emotional stress often causes the jaw muscles to tighten subconsciously, especially during sleep. Lifestyle factors that contribute to bruxism such as excessive caffeine intake, smoking and excessive intake of alcohol also cause teeth grinding.
Bruxism can be caused by a variety of factors, including physical alignment of the teeth, how the muscles of the jaw function and more. Many people do not even know that they are grinding their teeth until they start to feel symptoms of Bruxism.
The Symptoms of Teeth Grinding TMJ
Pain or stiffness in the jaw that is present in the morning could be caused by teeth grinding whilst you are asleep. This can also cause pain in the jaw muscles and lead to headaches and earaches. This is because the jaw joint and surrounding muscles are close to the ears so any pain or tension in this area can be felt in the head and ears.
In addition to causing headaches, teeth grinding can also cause serious problems with your teeth. Prolonged grinding can cause your teeth to wear down, become sensitive, crack or even break. Chewing your food can become painful, placing a lot of stress on your jaw. Early treatment for teeth grinding is crucial to avoid these types of problems with your teeth.
Another symptom of teeth grinding and TMJ is sleep disruption. A lot of people do not realise that they are grinding their teeth while they are sleeping. This can result in poor quality of sleep.
How Teeth Grinding Impacts Daily Life
The effects of teeth grinding TMJ on daily life can be very subtle however can have a significant impact on a person’s life. Chronic jaw pain, muscle pain in the jaw and facial area and occasional headaches can affect a person’s ability to eat, speak and concentrate. They can also cause you to feel tired and affect energy levels as they can cause poor quality of sleep.
Untreated Bruxism can cause very serious long term damage to your teeth. The wear down of teeth can mean that they are sensitive to hot and cold and this can affect the way you eat. Sometimes the only way to repair the damage that has been done is with fillings, crowns and in extreme cases root canal treatments.
Teeth Grinding TMJ Treatment
At Nuovo Clinic we have treatment for teeth grinding TMJ, by relaxing the jaw muscles. This is achieved by administering small amounts of anti-wrinkle injections into the masseter muscles. The masseter muscles are the larger muscles of the jaw that are used for moving the jaw and for clenching. By reducing the power of these muscles slightly the patient is able to stop grinding their teeth and also have relief from the jaw tension and accompanying headaches and facial pain.
Most of our patients experience relief from Bruxism symptoms within a few days of the treatment and the effects last approximately 3-4 months. The treatment is completed within 20 minutes and no downtime is required. Results of treatment last for 3 – 4 months in which time further treatment can be administered to continue the results.
The Benefits of Treating Teeth Grinding
The many benefits to treating Bruxism include preventing further damage to the teeth by grinding as well as a host of physical and emotional benefits including relief of headaches, jaw pain and facial tension allowing you to enjoy life more. Treatment can also help to improve your sleep. In addition reducing jaw tension is key as stress and tension is a major cause of Bruxism. In addition, relieving tension in the jaw can also have the additional benefit of relieving stress and tension in other parts of the body.
Getting The Right Treatment
TMJ Teeth Grinding treatment is provided at our Braintree clinic. Our treatment for TMJ Teeth Grinding is tailored to suit your specific situation. Alleviating your pain and returning you to full activity.
If you experience jaw pain or headaches, or suspect you may be suffering from teeth grinding at night then visit us at Nuovo Clinic to get the correct advice and treatment to stop your teeth grinding and wake up feeling fresh.
