Did you know that there are 60 muscles in our face? Did you know that we need to activate 17 muscles to smile and over 40 muscles to frown?
Our body activates many muscles without us even realizing it, even in our very simple facial expressions. Teeth clenching and teeth grinding are jaw movements that we mostly make unconsciously during sleep. During these movements, extreme fatigue and tension occurs in our jaw muscles. Individuals' teeth clenching can sometimes be heard from outside. Most of the time, patients are not aware that they are grinding their teeth; They are noticed by their families.
If you wake up tired in the morning and feel pain in your temples, head and neck area, you may be grinding your teeth. Teeth grinding is not a condition seen only in adults. Children, like adults, often grind their teeth while sleeping. The most common periods when children do this are when their baby teeth and permanent teeth emerge. When these two periods pass completely, they tend to give up their teeth grinding habits. Parents do not need to worry about this.
So what are the harms of teeth grinding?
As a result of teeth grinding, stress and pain occur in the teeth, joints and tissues. Teeth clenching can cause tooth wear and cracks. This causes hot and cold sensitivity. Teeth grinding causes pain in the head, neck, ear and temple areas. In the long term, osteoporosis and gum recession may occur. Just as physique athletes develop their muscles as they work out. Facial and chewing muscles develop during teeth clenching and can cause a square jaw appearance in the long term.
If teeth clenching is neglected, the jaw joint is affected; Problems such as limitation in opening the jaw, locking, loosening of teeth or tooth fractures may be encountered. Sounds may come from your joint.
So how is teeth clenching or grinding treated?
The purpose of teeth clenching treatment is to prevent permanent damage to the teeth and jaw joint and to eliminate pain. . In order to prevent the teeth from coming into contact with each other during sleep, there is a specially prepared protective device placed between the lower and upper jaw teeth. night plate is used. Depending on the patient's condition, some additional treatments may need to be applied in addition to night guards. These include stress therapy, measures to ensure comfortable sleep, muscle relaxant medication and botox applications. In addition, using one's teeth bilaterally in daily life ensures that a balanced force is transmitted to the facial muscles. Dental cavities that prevent the patient from chewing on both sides should be completed, and incorrectly made dental fillings and coatings should be replaced and renewed
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