Prevention of teeth grinding

We have probably heard many times that when life was difficult, we gritted our teeth and got through it. It is believed that many people clench their teeth when they feel stress, anxiety or when making decisions. However, we all do it to varying degrees. If we are more sensitive, we feel constant tension at work or in life in general. At night, stress is less controllable and can manifest itself in teeth grinding. The exact cause of this phenomenon is unknown. It is believed to be a phenomenon of the central nervous system or a form of sleep disorder. However, most agree that psychological stress is the determining factor.

Constant clenching or grinding of the teeth causes them to wear down more quickly and leads to pain in the chewing muscles and jaw joints (see “Treatment of chewing muscle and jaw joint disorders”).

We are not aware that we grind or clench our teeth frequently. This is indicated by a specific pattern of tooth wear: the parts of the teeth that do not normally come into contact when chewing, i.e. the biting edges of the front teeth, are worn down.

If you notice that your teeth are wearing down or that there are multiple chips in the crowns, that fillings or artificial crowns are loose or broken, you should immediately consult a competent dentist. In most cases, the worn areas are restored and protective mouthguards are made. It is essential to protect natural teeth from wear. Otherwise, a vicious circle forms: teeth wear down, need to be restored, and fillings and dentures also wear down and crack.

Therefore, the cause of teeth grinding is usually found elsewhere, not in the mouth. In most cases, worn teeth can probably be considered a consequence of our fast-paced civilisation. We work, think and analyse so much that we no longer notice what our body is doing at that moment, how tense it is. We need to constantly learn to control the tension in our lives. We should analyse our daily routine: slow down the pace of life, try to change our attitude towards circumstances that cannot be changed. We should try to feel as little tension as possible and shorten its duration. It is very useful to gradually develop the ability to notice the position of your teeth (the normal position is with the lips closed and a small gap between the teeth). In more severe cases, the assistance of a psychologist may be helpful. It is very difficult to learn to detect when you are tense, but it is worth trying, because it is not only the chewing muscles, joints and teeth that suffer. According to the World Health Organisation, 80% of diseases are related to stress.

With daily effort, it is possible to learn to control the force of teeth clenching during the day, but at night everything happens unconsciously. Therefore, various types of mouthguards are made to protect the teeth at night. If there are many restored teeth in the mouth, the use of a mouthguard at night is necessary to protect dentures or fillings.

To date, no universal remedy has been found to completely eliminate teeth grinding. Only its effects can be mitigated.