Is Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) a Dental Problem or a Body Balance Problem?
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oğuz Öztoprak’s functional and orthopaedic approach.
Bruxism, known as teeth clenching or grinding, is a fairly common condition in the population. Many people think it is just a simple habit involving only the teeth. However, the picture we see in our clinical practice is often more complex than this.
Some patients do not only clench their teeth. They also experience:
- Jaw pain
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Tinnitus
- Clicking from the jaw joint
- Waking up tired in the morning
- A decline in sleep quality
For this reason, we have to ask: Is bruxism really a problem related only to the teeth?
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is the involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth. This can occur:
- During sleep
- During the day
- During intense concentration
- In stressful periods
Today, however, bruxism is no longer evaluated only as a contact problem between the teeth. In some individuals, the jaw joint, muscle system, airway, sleep quality and functional occlusion relationships can also contribute to this picture.
Could Bruxism Be an Alarm Mechanism?
Our body sometimes expresses an underlying imbalance in various ways. In some people a headache appears, in others neck pain develops, and in others teeth grinding comes to the fore.
For this reason, bruxism should be evaluated not only as a movement that needs to be stopped, but as a functional finding whose cause needs to be investigated.
Could Teeth Grinding Be a Search for Balance?
In Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oğuz Öztoprak’s clinical approach, bruxism is not evaluated only as a habit involving the teeth. We often explain this to our patients with the following example:
Imagine wearing a high-heeled shoe on one foot and a low-heeled shoe on the other. In this case your body will struggle to walk in a balanced way, and a constant search for balance will arise during walking.
Similarly, in some individuals the jaw system can also move away from ideal functional balance. Imbalances between the right and left jaw joints, the chewing muscles and the closure of the teeth can cause the neuromuscular system to develop different adaptations. In some patients, bruxism can appear as one of these adaptations.
Of course, not every case of teeth grinding is caused by an occlusion disorder. However, in some individuals it is thought that functional imbalances in the jaw system contribute to the teeth-grinding behaviour.
The Relationship Between the Jaw Joint and Bruxism
During teeth grinding, the jaw joint and chewing muscles can be exposed to much higher loads than normal. Over time, this can contribute to complaints such as:
- Tenderness in the jaw joint
- Restriction in jaw movements
- Muscle pain
- Headaches
- A feeling of discomfort around the ear
- Clicking from the jaw joint
- Locking episodes of the jaw joint
In some patients, tinnitus, a feeling of ear fullness and subjective hearing-related complaints can also accompany the picture. However, the same picture is not seen in every bruxism patient. For this reason, individual evaluation is of great importance.
The Relationship Between Bruxism and the Airway
Recent studies suggest that in some individuals teeth-grinding behaviour may be related to sleep quality and the airway. Airway evaluation may be especially important in individuals with complaints such as:
- Snoring
- Sleeping with the mouth open
- Morning fatigue
- Fragmented sleep
- Daytime sleepiness
This is not valid for every patient. However, in some patients bruxism can be part of a broader functional picture.
Neck, Posture and Bruxism
The human body works as a whole. Head position, neck muscles and jaw muscles are in constant interaction. In particular, the following can affect the loads on the jaw system:
- Forward head posture
- Loss of neck curvature
- Long-term desk work
- Shoulder asymmetry
- Posture disorders
For this reason, focusing only on the teeth may not be sufficient in some patients.
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oğuz Öztoprak’s Approach
In our clinic, bruxism evaluation is not done by looking only at worn teeth. At the same time, the following are evaluated as a whole:
- Jaw joint functions
- Occlusal relationships
- Chewing muscles
- Balance between the right and left jaw joints
- Neck and posture structure
- Airway characteristics
- Sleep-related symptoms
The aim is not only to reduce teeth grinding, but to reveal the factors that may contribute to it.
What Is the Aim of Treatment?
The aim of treatment is not only to suppress the symptoms. The aim is to:
- Assess the biomechanical loads on the jaw system
- Identify functional imbalances
- Analyse the occlusal system
- Evaluate load distribution between the right and left jaw joints
- Improve the patient’s quality of life
- Create a long-term protective approach
For this purpose, depending on the case, the following may be planned:
- Clear aligner applications
- Functional orthopaedic approaches
- Orthodontic treatments
- Prosthetic rehabilitations
- Jaw joint rehabilitation
- Airway evaluations
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation support
Night guards (splints) and botulinum toxin applications can be helpful supportive treatments in some patients. However, these methods do not always eliminate the underlying functional imbalance.
In Prof. Dr. Mehmet Oğuz Öztoprak’s approach, the main goal is to ensure the balanced functioning of the jaw joints, to evaluate functional orthopaedic occlusion and, when necessary, to re-establish the biomechanical balance of the jaw system with orthodontic or prosthetic methods.
Conclusion
Bruxism is not always a problem originating only from the teeth. In some individuals it can be part of a broader functional picture linked to the jaw joint, muscle system, posture, airway, sleep quality and occlusal relationships.
For this reason, the modern approach should focus not only on the teeth but on the patient’s entire functional system. In our clinic, the aim is not only to reduce teeth grinding, but to reveal the underlying functional imbalances by evaluating the relationship between the jaw joints, chewing muscles, occlusion, posture and airway.
Because sometimes what needs to be treated is not the teeth grinding itself, but the biomechanical and functional imbalances that contribute to it.
If you are also curious about the relationship between jaw occlusion and posture and the spine, you can read our article "Is There a Relationship Between Scoliosis, Shoulder Asymmetry and Jaw Occlusion?"
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bruxism only a dental problem?
No. In some individuals bruxism can be part of a broader functional picture linked to the jaw joint, muscle system, posture, airway, sleep quality and occlusal relationships.
What are the symptoms of bruxism?
Jaw pain, headaches, neck pain, clicking from the jaw joint, tinnitus or a feeling of ear fullness, morning fatigue, tooth wear and locking episodes of the jaw joint may be seen.
What causes teeth grinding?
It can occur during sleep, during the day, under intense concentration or in stressful periods. In some individuals, functional imbalances of the jaw system together with the airway and sleep quality may also contribute.
Do a night guard (splint) or botox treat bruxism?
Night guards and botulinum toxin applications can be helpful supportive treatments in some patients. However, these methods do not always eliminate the underlying functional imbalance.
Can bruxism be related to the airway and sleep?
In some individuals, yes. If there are complaints such as snoring, sleeping with the mouth open, morning fatigue, fragmented sleep and daytime sleepiness, airway evaluation may be important.
What is the approach to treating bruxism?
The aim is not only to suppress the symptom but to reveal the underlying functional imbalances. Depending on the case, clear aligners, functional orthopaedic approaches, orthodontics, prosthetic rehabilitation, jaw joint rehabilitation, airway evaluation and physiotherapy support may be planned.