During the night, we process stress through our jaws. Teeth grinding happens unconsciously and usually also unnoticed. However, grinding or clenching can be damaging to your teeth and lead to tension or pain. Relaxation exercises can help.
If we do something “through gritted teeth” it means we're doing it against our will. We're suppressing our displeasure, doing it reluctantly, grudgingly. Such situations can trigger stress, which we process at night – literally with clenched teeth. Teeth grinding (or bruxism) involves unconsciously clenching or grinding your teeth. In Switzerland, about a third of the population grinds their teeth in their sleep, and sometimes during the day as well.
What you can do about it
The process can really take its toll, often causing irreparable damage to the teeth, such as worn-down surfaces or cracks in the enamel. The constant pressure on the jaw muscles often leads to tension, which manifests in the morning in the form of headaches, neck pain and even shoulder pain. In some cases, it even triggers a persistent ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Clenching the teeth for hours can cause dizziness or migraines and eye problems.
Mouth guards made by dental technicians help to prevent grinding and have a protective and pain-relieving effect. Physiotherapy can also help with muscle tension or tension in the temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Stretching and loosening exercises can relieve tension and relax the muscle.
Stress triggers
To identify the cause of bruxism, you need to take a close look at the things causing you stress. In most cases, simple relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi, autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation are enough to help. If the symptoms worsen or cause significant distress, psychological treatment may also be advisable.
If you want to find out if you're clenching or grinding your teeth at night, you can have your teeth examined by a dentist. Anyone suffering from headaches and a stiff neck should also check whether the pain might be caused by teeth grinding.
