What is bruxism?
Bruxism is the involuntary habit of clenching or grinding teeth, especially at night.
It can cause:
Jaw pain
Headaches
Neck pain
Feeling of pressure in the face
Dental wear
Why does it occur?
It does not have a single cause. It is often related to:
Stress
Sleep disturbances
Malocclusion
Emotional factors
The body does not separate mind and muscle. Emotional tension manifests physically.
What does physiotherapy have to do with it?
A lot.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is connected to the cervical and shoulder muscles. If there is sustained tension, the entire system is affected.
The approach may include:
Manual therapy on masticatory muscles
Cervical work
Jaw control exercises
Postural education
Relaxation techniques
A dental splint can protect the teeth, but it does not eliminate muscle tension.
If you only treat the symptom, the problem returns.
