The consequences of grinding your teeth

introduction

Teeth grinding is excessive tooth contact between the upper and lower teeth.
Statically one speaks of pressing, dynamically of crunching (Bruxism).

Normally the upper and lower teeth are only in contact when swallowing and chewing. At rest there is an average distance of 2 mm between the teeth (Quiet floating position). In the case of bruxism (grinding of teeth) this distance is not maintained and the teeth come into contact excessively often under sometimes high loads.
Teeth grinding takes place both during the day and at night during sleep and has various negative consequences for the teeth and the entire chewing system.

Repeated shifting / pressing of the teeth against each other leads to the loss of tooth enamel (attrition).

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This usually affects the canines first and then the anterior and posterior teeth.
Of the Tooth enamel loss can go so far Dentine exposed and the teeth become overly sensitive. The constant overload of the teeth can lead to tooth fractures, teeth that have been treated with root canals are particularly at risk.

Both of these can ultimately lead to tooth loss in the long term.

Stress from grinding teeth

The constant stress on the teeth often overloads the masticatory muscles.
On the one hand, this leads to locally radiating pain and, on the other hand, to tension, which can continue in the neck or back muscles.
This can lead to problems opening the mouth or posture problems. These muscle complaints can also provoke headaches or reduce the ability to concentrate.

In addition to the muscles, the teeth holding apparatus are also overloaded, which leads to permanent irritation. This provokes and promotes inflammation. This can lead to receding bone and thus receding gums. In addition to attrition, this has a negative effect on the teeth.

The temporomandibular joint as an important part of the masticatory system is also negatively affected by bruxism. Excessive wear and tear on the temporomandibular joint and the surrounding cartilage can lead to temporomandibular joint sores.

An overloaded or inflamed temporomandibular joint also has a negative effect on the ear due to its close proximity. For example, tinnitus, dizziness or imbalance can occur here.

The consequences of teeth grinding depend on the frequency and above all on the severity of the grinding and therefore vary from patient to patient.

Jaw pain

Teeth grinding, which occurs particularly frequently at night, is characterized by incorrect loading of the temporomandibular joint. This means the muscles are constantly overloaded and tension and cramping occur. The muscles are attached to the jawbone. Therefore, the tension often results in limited jaw mobility and pain when opening the mouth.

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Tinnitus

One possible consequence of teeth grinding is the development of unpleasant noises in the ears, known as tinnitus. The constant exertion of force as well as the tension of the jaw muscles can lead to cramps. These cause constant incorrect loading of the temporomandibular joint, which can consequently affect the inner part of the ear. In the inner ear there are small so-called hair cells that can be damaged by the pressure. This can lead to a whistling noise or even sudden hearing loss.

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Back pain

The misalignment of the two jaws to each other, which occurs as a result of constant teeth grinding, can cause severe pain. One tries to compensate or alleviate the pain by adjusting the posture of the head. The resulting incorrect posture of the head consequently leads to tension in the neck, which extends into the lower back and can cause severe back pain.

Read more on the topic: Causes of back pain

Neck pain

A misalignment in the temporomandibular joint and the resulting incorrect force effects can lead to severe tension. These cause pain in the jaw, temple or head area. You try to compensate for the symptoms by changing your head position. There is cramping and pain in the neck area. The neck muscles tense and the pain can even drag further down into the back.

a headache

The tension and pain caused by the incorrect strain on the muscles in the mouth and jaw area very often radiate to the temples and head area. The crunch occurs mainly at night and manifests itself in increased and severe headaches during the day. The first signs that can provide a conclusion about the grinding of teeth as the cause of the daily headaches are ground canine tips.

Read more on the topic: Grinding teeth at night

migraine

If bruxism is not detected as the cause of the persistent headache, the typical symptoms of a migraine can result. The migraine presents itself as an attack-like, severe and very painful headache. Sufferers are advised to see an orthodontist. This can determine whether it is a misalignment of the jaws caused by the grinding of the teeth and thus a muscular overload as the cause of the occurring migraines.

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