What Causes Teeth Clenching?

The disease of our time (clenching-bruxism) starts at a very early age with stress, however, it can also be seen in older ages and can cause major problems such as not being able to open the mouth at all if not treated.

What is Teeth Clenching (Bruxism)? What are the Symptoms?

Involuntary clenching or grinding (bruxism) during sleep, which is a symptom of daily work tempo and stressful life, is a condition that negatively affects dental health. People with this complaint are often unaware that they are clenching or grinding their teeth. People around them state that they grind their teeth during sleep at night. When they wake up in the morning, they may wake up with jaw pain. If left untreated for a long time, it becomes chronic and if left untreated, it can cause major problems such as not being able to open the mouth at all.

What are the Causes of Clenching? It has been accepted that even in patients with uneventful lower and upper jaw closure, problems with clenching and grinding are also seen.

Today, clenching or grinding (bruxism); It is considered as a reflection symptom of stressful daily life that occurs during sleep.

What Causes Clenching or Grinding? Does Clenching Cause Headache?

Initial complaints are headache, facial pain and jaw pain when waking up in the morning. Over time, the complaints progress and difficulty in eating, difficulty in opening and closing the mouth due to jaw joint problems are added to the table.

In the future, symptoms such as locking in the jaw, loosening of the teeth and tooth fractures, and shifting of the jaw towards the affected side during mouth opening may occur. > The cause of pain caused by clenching is the reflection of pain and sensitivity between the capsule of the jaw joint and the intra-articular fluid. In its etiology, closing disorders of the lower and upper jaws, having a history of trauma, condylar disc irregularities, regenerative joint diseases and inflammation There are lower joint diseases.

How Does Teeth Clenching Work? How is Teeth Grinding Treatment Performed?

Patients with jaw disease apply to otorhinolaryngology and neurology clinics with symptoms such as headache, face and ear pain until they apply to the jaw surgery clinic.
These patients should be seen by a specialist dentist (maxillary surgeon). First of all, radiological examination is performed to evaluate the jaw structure.

The treatment process is long. In this regard, the patient should be conscious and patient compliance should be good. They are transparent plaques. It is prepared individually by taking the patient's mouth size.

Tooth protective appliances: The purpose of these protective appliances, which are made of hard acrylic plastic materials, is to cut the contact of the lower and upper jaw teeth with each other. They are also called “night guards.”

In addition to treatment, muscle relaxants and hot water therapy may provide partial relief for patients with acute muscle spasms.

The necessity of surgical approach is evaluated in patients who cannot achieve the desired improvement with appliances and plates.

What are the Causes of Teeth Grinding in Children?

Teeth grinding during sleep is more common in children younger than 5 years old. is observed.
As in adults, the main reason for clenching teeth in children is psychological.

Indirect factors can also cause teeth grinding in children. These include leakage of stomach acid into the esophagus (reflux), intestinal parasites, chronic sinusitis, nasal congestion, hyperactivity and attention disorder.

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