More than half of the British population, grind their teeth and clench their jaw as a stress response. This can cause many uncomfortable symptoms including jaw pain, headaches, sensitivity and damage to the teeth, a wider more bulky jaw.
There are many possible causes for teeth grinding or clenching including Temporaro-mandibular joint (TMJ) disorder or TMD. Although it’s worth noting that many people habitually clench or grind their teeth and never develop TMJ disorders.
The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-dib-u-lur) joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
The exact cause of a person’s TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, such as:
Genetics
Various types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Jaw injury
Long-term (chronic) grinding or clenching of teeth
Certain connective tissue diseases that cause problems that may affect the temporomandibular joint
In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders is temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments.
Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:
Pain or tenderness of your jaw
Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
Aching pain, ringing or buzzing in and around your ears.
Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing. This may be accompanied by a clicking or grating sensation when chewing or biting. If there’s no pain or limitation of movement associated with your jaw clicking, you probably don’t need treatment for a TMJ disorder.
Aching facial pain, headaches and migraines.
Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
Neck, shoulder, or back pain.
Pain behind the eyes and sinus pain.
Instead of the above symptoms, you may experience changes to your teeth as a result of the right clenching and constant grinding:
Flattened, worn teeth
Broken teeth, fillings, crowns
Loose teeth
Sensitive teeth
Toothache with no apparent cause
We can address jaw problems at Sonria and help you find the perfect solution. Examples include, and are not limited to:
Splint Therapy: The wearing of a mouth guard at night to protect your teeth and help prevent the TMJ from clenching and grinding. Many patients find them uncomfortable and impractical as in order for them to be an effective treatment they must be worn every night.
Carefully adjusting your teeth so they meet evenly by changing the direction and position of the slopes (‘tooth equilibration’).
Replacement of missing teeth either with a partial denture or a bridge.
Depending on the origin or severity of your problem, you may need either orthodontic treatment or maxillofacial surgery.
Botulinum toxin injections to relax the jaw muscles and prevent the patient from clenching with force. This is especially important if the patient has had any cosmetic dental work and can help act as a protection conserving that work so the patient doesn’t grind down and create wear and tear.
Please don’t suffer in silence! Get in touch with your doctor or dentist if you have persistent pain or tenderness in your jaw, or if you can’t open or close your jaw completely. They will assess and discuss possible causes and treatments for your problem.
Posted on 18 December 2024 by Sonria Dental Clinic
