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Tooth Clenching (Bruxism) Treatment
Teeth clenching (bruxism) is a problem caused by involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth. Although it usually occurs during sleep, it can also be an action that the person does unconsciously during the day. The main cause of bruxism is stress in a person's life. The stress experienced in daily life is first seen in the mouth. Stress is the reason for both the onset and increase of teeth grinding and clenching. If the person has a very nervous, meticulous and sensitive nature, the probability of experiencing this disorder is higher. In addition, the misalignment and irregularity of the teeth can also cause this disorder.
Bruxism can be encountered in all age groups. The most important reasons why it is observed in children are stress, jealousy, disappointment and malocclusion. Sometimes, during grinding, even the person himself may be disturbed by the sound and wake up from his sleep. The biggest symptom is the pain felt in the facial muscles, jaw joint and neck muscles when you wake up in the morning. However, tinnitus is also one of the symptoms of bruxism. Teeth and surrounding tissues become sensitive. First of all, tiny cracks occur in the teeth, and then fractures occur. Due to teeth grinding during the night, the jaw bone is strained and melts occur. As a result, teeth become weak and tooth loss occurs.
Before giving information about the treatment process, it should be known that jaw joint problems do not occur overnight, but increase gradually over time, so the treatment of this condition cannot be done in one day. For this reason, it is important for patients to be patient during the treatment process. In acute muscle spasms, using muscle relaxants and applying hot water may help relieve patients momentarily, but will not eliminate the cause of the discomfort. The fact that the patient continues to clench and grind his teeth at night means that the existing problem continues. For this reason, what is important for the success of the treatment is to eliminate the factors that cause bruxism. Once this cause is removed from the person's life, the problem of teeth grinding or clenching will gradually decrease.
In order to minimize the damage caused by teeth clenching to the teeth, patients should use a transparent plate, which we call night plates and protectors, during sleep. Additionally, masseter muscle botox application should be added depending on the severity of the complaint. Stress treatment and psychological support may be recommended depending on the patient's condition. In addition, malocclusions need to be corrected and incorrectly made fillings and prostheses need to be renewed.
What are the Symptoms of Tooth Tightening?
Symptoms of bruxism may vary depending on the age, personality traits and health history of the person. The most obvious symptom of bruxism is pain in the facial muscles, jaw joints and neck muscles, which is usually felt when waking up in the morning. Tinnitus can also be a sign of this condition. Teeth and tissues around the teeth become sensitive. Firstly, tiny cracks and then fractures occur in the teeth. The jawbone is strained due to grinding teeth during the night and melting occurs. As a result, the teeth become weak and tooth loss occurs.
Symptoms of teeth grinding include damage to the tooth enamel, toothache and associated severe headache, teeth with broken ends, severe pain in the neck and jaw, irritation in the cheek and gums, irregular sleep, occasional pain in the ear. If these symptoms are not recognised and treated at an early stage, the condition can become chronic and trigger other health problems over time.
What are the Causes of Tooth Tightening?
There can be many causes of teeth clenching and this is often related to the person's lifestyle, general health status and stress level. The main cause of bruxism is usually stress. Stress encountered in daily life usually shows its first effects in the mouth area. Stress is the reason for both the onset and increase of teeth grinding and clenching. Especially in individuals with nervous, meticulous and sensitive personality traits, this discomfort can be seen more frequently. In addition, irregularities in the teeth, alignment disorders, improperly made fillings and prostheses can also prepare the ground for bruxism.
Other causes of teeth clenching can be poor bite alignment (malocclusion), medication side effects, acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hyperactivity, alcohol, nicotine and substances containing excessive caffeine, childhood dental conditions or sleep problems, sleep apnoea and other sleep problems, use of depression medications, neurological diseases such as Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease.
Bruxism can be seen in all age groups, but stress, jealousy, frustration and bite disorders are among the main causes of clenching in children. Sometimes, being disturbed by these sounds during grinding can lead to waking up from sleep.
How to Treat Tooth Tightening?
Teeth grinding treatment is a process that requires a personalized approach specific to the situation the individual is experiencing. The important thing in the success of bruxism treatment is to eliminate the factors that cause bruxism. In the first stage, our dentist evaluates the patient's condition in detail. This evaluation focuses on jaw movements, tooth wear, and the patient's general health history, allowing an accurate diagnosis to be made.
At the beginning of teeth grinding treatment, priority interventions are performed to provide immediate relief and relieve pain. These interventions may include the use of special mouthguards, exercises that relax the jaw muscles, and painkillers if needed. Additionally, depending on the severity of the complaint, masseter muscle botox application is also added. These steps provide quick solutions to reduce the patient's level of discomfort.
The bruxism treatment plan is customized based on the patient's needs and condition. This plan includes the use of a transparent plate, which we call night plates and protectors, during sleep. These plates minimize the damage caused by teeth clenching. In addition, malocclusions need to be corrected and incorrectly made fillings and prostheses need to be renewed.
Stress management and habit change are an important component of the treatment process, considering that teeth grinding problems are often associated with stress. Stress treatment and psychological support may be recommended depending on the patient's condition. Recognizing and changing teeth-grinding habits plays a critical role in long-term treatment success.