Bruxism: These neuro-exercises help against teeth grinding
It is unpleasant and can lead to pain in the head, jaw joint, ears or teeth: we are talking about teeth grinding. Around one in three people in Germany suffers from it, often without noticing it at first. The problem, also known as bruxism, is often triggered by stress and excessive use of digital media at work.
Here you can find out where teeth grinding comes from and what you can do about it.
Constantly staring at screens and repetitive hand movements while using the mouse can cause tension in the neck and shoulders, which also affects the jaw region. If the muscles in the jaw are tense, it can cause the teeth to unconsciously clench or rub together to relieve the resulting pressure.
Hormones released by stress, such as adrenaline and cortisol, can also increase muscle tension in the jaw. In such cases, teeth grinding, which can occur both while awake and asleep, serves as a kind of outlet to release built-up stress.
In addition, teeth grinding can also temporarily help relax the eye muscles and sharpen close vision. This is done to reduce eye strain caused by frequent screen use. In the long term, however, this form of compensation, like any compensatory reaction, is not a good idea. It can lead to a variety of problems, from strained jaw muscles to damage to teeth.
What to do about bruxism?
If you want to get rid of the annoying grinding of your teeth, which in the worst case can also cause annoying noises, tinnitus or migraines, it is first important to identify the individual triggers. If orthopedic dysfunctions such as incorrect tooth position or jaw joint misalignment can be ruled out, good stress management is a first way to treat bruxism. Because reducing stress can also reduce tension in the muscles.
Jaw relaxation through targeted training
In addition, neurocentric training techniques can help reduce stress and loosen the jaw muscles. The focus here is on training the brain. In order to function smoothly, it needs precise signals from the body, which it analyzes and processes.
In the case of the jaw, for example, the sensory information comes from the surrounding joints, muscles, nerves, soft tissues, teeth and sensory organs. If the quality of the transmitted data is inferior due to incorrect and constant voltage, the nervous system reacts with protective mechanisms such as the sensation of pain or muscular tension. Through targeted exercises, communication between body and brain can be improved.
Stay relaxed: neuro-workout for the jaw
In collaboration with neurotrainer Luise Walther, we have created a 10-minute exercise flow for you for the jaw, shoulders and neck. To make the exercises even more intense and effective, you can also use a resistance band , a vision stick and a Z-Vibe vibration pen for training.
