An imperfect bite is common to some. Known as malocclusion, this incorrect fitting of the teeth when closing your mouth could develop into jaw pain or discomfort. But how do teeth often become misaligned?

Excessive teeth grinding and clenching influence how your lower and upper teeth fit together. According to the British Dental Journal, flatter teeth increase the risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Hence, unrestrained teeth grinding is often interrelated in limiting your jaw movement and function. 

These interconnected conditions may cause significant discomfort and long-term dental issues. To find an effective treatment, let’s understand more about these conditions.

What are TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders (TMD) is a catch-all term for conditions affecting your TMJs. TMJs move in coordination at each side of your face to help you chew, speak, drink and express facial emotions. TMD results in pain, discomfort and limited movement in the jaw joints, muscles and surrounding structures. 

When affected by TMD, you may experience common symptoms such as:

  • Jaw pain and tenderness – associated with pain reaching your jaw joint, temples or face.
  • Jaw clicking, popping or grinding – this subtle crackling occurs when slightly or fully opening or closing your mouth. It is often due to a displaced articular disc in your mandibles.
  • Difficulty chewing or biting – minimal pressure strains your jaw which makes eating difficult or almost impossible.
  • Headaches – this makes your head feel dull and achy similar to tension-type headaches and migraines.
  • Earaches – this results in pressure or ringing of your ear (tinnitus)

Understanding Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

While the exact cause of TMJ disorders is unknown, bruxism may contribute to TMD development. Bruxism is a condition where you unconsciously grind, clench or gnash your teeth. It may occur during the day (awake bruxism) or at night (sleep bruxism). 

What’s the difference between the two? Awake bruxism is typically a habit when you concentrate or manage stress and emotions. While in sleep bruxism, you may not be aware of grinding your teeth during sleep.

People who clench their teeth while sleeping are more common. Regardless of these, bruxism often results in flattened, chipped or fractured teeth. Based on studies, changes in tooth shape and location due to night bruxism lead to TMJ problems.

Since this can occur while awake or asleep, you must understand the causes of teeth grinding such as:

  • Psychological factors – being stressed, anxious or nervous increases your chance of teeth grinding or clenching.
  • Genetics – bruxism often runs in the family; other members of your family might experience this.
  • Lifestyle – excessive teeth clenching is likely to occur when you’re consuming alcohol, caffeine or tobacco. 
  • Misaligned teeth – an unnatural teeth alignment often puts excessive pressure on your teeth which contributes to teeth grinding. When left untreated, this could lead to severe dental issues.
  • Irregular sleep patterns – snoring and sleep apnoea contribute to more frequent teeth grinding.
  • Medications – taking drugs like antidepressants, stimulants and antipsychotics increases your risk of experiencing sleep bruxism. This requires medical advice so you can prevent these potential side effects.

The Connection Between TMJ Disorders and Teeth Grinding

TMJ pain arises due to an increase in overbite. This is when your upper teeth overlap with your lower teeth more than they should. Teeth grinding mostly causes this misalignment. 

Sometimes, misaligned teeth result from excessive nail biting, tongue thrusting or thumb sucking. When this misalignment occurs, it results in an unequal distribution of bite pressure. Over time, this results in jaw joints and muscles becoming fatigued and overworked which leads to pain and tenderness.

Studies even showed that individuals with imperfect bites have a higher frequency of TMD than people with normal bites. But how does TMD lead to teeth grinding? When the jaw joint is out of alignment or experiencing pain, your body may unconsciously clench the jaw muscles to try and relieve discomfort. This jaw clenching can lead to frequent teeth grinding.

Oftentimes, this teeth grinding creates a vicious cycle of TMJ pain. Chronic grinding of teeth may exacerbate existing TMJ problems. As the body tries to compensate for the discomfort, it forces you to clench your teeth frequently. This results in an endless cycle of discomfort and pain.

Risks and Complications of Untreated TMJ and Teeth Grinding

TMJ pain influences teeth grinding, and vice-versa. When these conditions remain untreated, it can lead to severe health issues. Some potential risks include: 

  • Tooth wear – frequent teeth grinding can wear down your tooth enamel. This exposes your teeth to decay, discolouration or sensitivity.
  • Jaw damage – constant excessive pressure from grinding strains your jaw joints. Worn jaw joints may lead to inflammation, cartilage thinning and even joint dislocation.
  • Chronic pain – neglecting these conditions may result in chronic pain spanning your jaw, face, neck and head.
  • Limited social activities – chronic discomfort from jaw and teeth clenching significantly limits your social activities. 
  • Emotional distress – these conditions may lead to fatigue, irritability and sleep disturbances adding to your emotional distress. This significantly burdens your overall well-being.

Treatment Options for TMJ Disorders and Teeth Grinding at MVMT Sports Chiro

Chronic teeth grinding potentially complicates TMJ disorders. That’s why seeking treatment is crucial to prevent any health complications from these. One effective treatment option to manage these conditions is chiropractic care.

MVMT Sports Chiropractor is a top-notch provider of modern chiropractic care in Sydney. Chiropractors use gentle adjustments to restore proper jaw joint alignment and reduce muscle tension. By focusing on these, it can help you relieve jaw pain, improve function and reduce teeth grinding. 

MVMT Sports Chiropractic takes a holistic approach to treating TMD and bruxism. We combine chiropractic care with other therapies for comprehensive relief. This approach may include:

  • Stress management: We offer stress management techniques such as relaxation exercises or meditation. This helps you manage stress and reduce the impact of your symptoms. 
  • Lifestyle modifications: Our expert therapists provide lifestyle recommendations to alleviate TMJ pain. It includes modifying your diet and posture and using dental accessories to reduce excessive teeth grinding.
  • Dry Needling: This stimulates natural pain relief in your body to help you resume normal activity.
  • Fascial Manipulation: It involves a deep massage to stimulate healing and relax your stressed jaw joints and surrounding tissues.
  • Physical Therapy: We provide patient-centric exercises to strengthen your jaw muscles and improve jaw function.

Unrestrained teeth grinding contributes to TMD as it puts excessive pressure on the jaw joints. As your body responds to this discomfort, it leads to frequent teeth clenching. This vicious cycle exacerbates symptoms and may lead to further damage.

Before these conditions affect your quality of life, it’s best to seek treatment. At MVMT Sports Chiropractic, we provide a comprehensive evaluation to address your specific needs. Our team of experienced professionals offer a patient-centric treatment plan to manage your bruxism and TMJ pain.

Don’t let these conditions take control of your life. Schedule a free initial consultation by contacting us at 0421 151 778 so you can receive a personalised treatment plan. Receive a discount on TMJ-related treatments as a first-time patient!