Seven out of ten adults suffer from bruxism. The main symptoms that this condition can cause are muscle pain and contractures in the cervical area, jaw pain or, most commonly, tooth wear. Although it may seem a strange habit, involuntary clenching of the teeth has increased by 30% in recent years.
The only solution to bruxism is a dental splint. This is a piece adapted to the mouth of each patient, which molds to the teeth and allows the jaw muscles to relax. In this way, it avoids hitting the joints with the rhythmic friction movements of the teeth that are not performed by the action of chewing.
People with bruxism can withstand a pressure of about 150kg, while when we chew consciously, we use a force of 10 or 40kg. Not preventing the effects of bruxism can end up wearing down and damaging part of our teeth.
There are recommendations to prevent the appearance or repetition of this bad habit. Tips to avoid bruxism include sleeping on the stomach, not consuming stimulating beverages such as coffee, watching your body posture and practicing sports regularly and, above all, not chewing gum.