More than half of the population suffers from bruxism, which consists of clenching the lower teeth against the upper teeth unconsciously during sleep. Occasionally, very bruxist dental patients grind their teeth during the day and are aware of it, but it is normal to do it without realizing it.
Consequences of bruxism for oral health
The mouth has a set of muscles that are among the most powerful in the whole organism. Subjecting the teeth to such powerful forces all night long exponentially multiplies the number of hours that the teeth must be subjected to masticatory forces and consequently accelerates their wear and aging, worsening their appearance and predisposing them to fractures, caries and sensitivity, among other problems.
Causes of bruxism
Contracted masticatory muscles, originated by a bad articular position, in a bruxist mouth, can generate pain as any other contracture and such pain can radiate causing headaches.
Periods of high stress intensify bruxism and its consequences, since emotional tension is somatized into muscular tension.
Treatment to combat bruxism
It is essential to prevent the consequences of bruxism since the loss of natural dental enamel is irreversible.
A good orthodontic treatment should not only align the teeth, but should also be accompanied by an adequate analysis to move the jaw joint towards its best possible position. The more correct position the jaw acquires, the more relaxed the muscles will be and, of course, the less joint pain there will be. These are also related to headaches and clicking noises that must disappear.
The dental unloading splint is a removable appliance that placed in the mouth during the night, also allows the joint to reach its ideal position, relaxing the musculature and relieving other problems.