If your answer to these questions is yes, you most likely have bruxism. But… what is bruxism?

Bruxism is the involuntary contraction of the jaw muscles, with the masseter muscle being the most affected.

When does it occur?

It can happen during sleep or while awake, especially when the person is focused on a task.

What causes it?

In the case of nighttime bruxism, it is mainly attributed to increased activity of the central nervous system during sleep, or as a protective mechanism for the airway in sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnea.

For daytime bruxism, studies have shown that anxiety and stress are predisposing factors that increase jaw muscle activity when individuals are exposed to such situations, compared to their normal daytime motor activity.

At what age does it appear?

Bruxism is present in both children and adults, though it is more common among adults.

What are the most common symptoms?

The most characteristic symptom is jaw pain. In addition, other frequently occurring signs include:

Limited mouth opening

Joint degeneration

Headaches or migraines

Cracked or broken teeth

Pain when chewing and/or speaking

Poor digestion due to improper chewing of food

Why see a physiotherapist to treat this problem?

The pressure caused by bruxism leads to high levels of muscle tension in the neck, face, head, and even the shoulder and back areas.

At Ogisalud Canarias, we offer a wide range of resources to address and relieve symptoms, as well as tackle the root cause of the problem.
Our physiotherapists perform intraoral and extraoral manual therapy, and we also use advanced equipment such as laser therapy, the Super Inductive System, and Lavatron Biodiathermy.

All of this is aimed at eliminating pain and resolving issues caused by bruxism.