What is Clenching?
Bruxism is a dental disorder characterized by teeth grinding and mandible clenching. Bruxism, which is the unconscious clenching or pressing of the teeth, is a problem that many people experience, but it is frequently neglected or ignored for a long time. However, if the teeth clenching problem is not addressed, it can have severe consequences for oral and dental health.
Why Does Clenching Occur?
There are a number of potential causes for teeth tightening. Stress, anxiety, sleep apnea, misaligned teeth, and improper jaw movements are frequent causes of clenching problems.
Stress: One of the most common causes of clenching is stress. Teeth clenching can be caused by stress from daily life, work life, financial problems, or personal problems. In this situation, the body can clench its teeth in order to reduce environmental stress.
Anxiety: Anxiety or stress is also a significant cause of clenching. When anxiety is combined with involuntary movements such as clenching, the clenching problem will worsen, causing it to progress and lead to teeth grinding.
Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a disorder that makes it difficult to breathe while sleeping. In this instance, the individual may have clenched his molars while attempting to increase breathing.
Orthodontic issues: Due to the misalignment of the teeth, orthodontic issues frequently result in teeth grinding. In this case, teeth grinding and clenching may occur as a result of dysfunctional jaw muscles.
Drugs: Certain medications can induce clenching difficulties. There are medications used to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, and psychological issues.
This involuntary behavior; can cause jaw pain, headache, earache, insomnia, migraine, erosion of tooth enamel, gum sensitivity or chipped teeth.
Teeth Grinding Treatment
Dentists use a variety of techniques to alleviate the distress caused by teeth grinding.
Dental Guard
A mouth guard is another treatment we offer for people who pulverize their teeth while sleeping. A mouth guard, also known as a dental guard or mouth splint, is a dental appliance that is custom-made and fits securely over the teeth. Creating a physical barrier between the lower and upper teeth will reduce tooth damage and muscle tension-induced discomfort.
Splint
For clenching treatment, many dentists use a special device known as a splint. This mouthpiece has been specifically designed to prevent teeth grinding and tooth damage. The splint can be affixed to the upper and lower portions separately. It prevents tooth wear by enabling the individual to breathe comfortably. Additionally, it reduces jaw muscle pain by assisting to relax the jaw and surrounding muscles.
If you have complaints such as teeth grinding and snoring, contact us immediately to be examined by Dentist Müge Ateş, who has extensive experience in this field.
