The stomatognathic system consists of the teeth, the jawbones, the muscles, and the surrounding tissues. The stomatognathic system performs many functions such as chewing, speaking, and swallowing. However, it often malfunctions.
In these cases, we experience dysfunction of the stomatognathic system, leading to excessive wear and damage in certain areas.
This can result in the following dysfunctions:
- Severe tooth wear, reduction in their height, and flattening.
- Damage to the periodontium (the tissues that support the teeth), tooth mobility, bleeding, and gum sensitivity.
- Muscle fatigue and pain, headaches, difficulty opening the mouth.
- Damage to the temporomandibular joints. This may manifest as pain and noises from the joint, difficulty in opening the mouth, etc.
The exact cause of this dysfunction is still unclear. Several factors play a role, depending on the case:
- Stress
- Teeth occlusion (how our teeth come together)
- Gender
- Age
- Dental work
- Head posture during sleep
How can I tell if I grind my teeth?
If it occurs during the day, we can notice whether we grind or clench our teeth. It is important to remember that our teeth should only touch when we chew or swallow (totaling about 17 minutes per day). Any other contact between the teeth is unnecessary and places additional stress on the stomatognathic system, especially if prolonged.
If it happens at night, unfortunately, we cannot notice it ourselves since we are asleep. However, if we grind our teeth, someone sleeping in the same room may hear the sound. When we clench our teeth, we may only realize it the next morning due to symptoms such as jaw soreness or headaches.
What can I do to treat it?
The best thing you can do is try to relax and reduce stress as much as possible. However, since this is very difficult, there are various therapeutic measures that can help limit the problem (although completely curing it is often impossible) and reduce the extent of the damage it may cause.
The most common treatment options include physical therapy and different types of dental splints. In physical therapy, specific exercises are taught to restore the muscles to their normal function and coordination. A dental splint is a plastic device that fits onto the teeth in a specific way and helps reduce the intensity of bruxism.
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above (clenching or grinding of teeth, persistent headaches, joint noises, difficulty opening your mouth, etc.), you should consult a dentist. Even a minor issue, if left untreated, can develop into a more serious problem that will be difficult to correct later. Your dentist will guide you accordingly.