Teeth grinding is called Bruxism in the dentistry world. Have you ever noticed bodybuilding athletes, how do they crazily exercise to get that bulky body? Your jaw is also a muscle, when you keep gritting and tensing up your muscles, it can start looking heavy.
Does Grinding Your Teeth Affect Your Face?
When you have a habit of grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw, you automatically perform repetitive movements. This can overwork your jaw, resulting in premature aging of the lower face. Gritting your teeth can damage your teeth’ enamel, making teeth smaller and changing the facial appearance.
In certain cases, the continuous biting force or tooth loss can cause jawbone loss. The lower part of your face loses volume and support, leaving you with premature sagging of skin.
Can You Reverse Bruxism?
Sadly, you cannot reverse Bruxism. However, there are some approaches you can adopt to control its effects:
- Mouthguards: Dentists usually suggest wearing a customized mouthguard at night to protect the teeth from grinding and clenching.
- Stress Management: Stress and anxiety can increase bruxism, look for efficient stress management methods. This contains activities such as yoga, exercises, sports, meditation, etc.
- Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy aka CBT can help recognize and address the underlying issues of Bruxism. Particularly, if it is linked to stress and other psychological factors.
- Muscle Relaxation Exercises: Doing exercises to relax the jaw and facial muscles can be helpful. This can include massage, warm compresses, or specific relaxation methods.
- Avoiding Stimulants: Reduce or restrict the consumption of stimulants
like caffeine and nicotine, especially in the evening. - Correcting Misaligned Teeth: In certain cases, bruxism can be associated with dental problems, like misaligned teeth. Orthodontic treatment or dental procedures can help in such situations.
- Medication: In severe cases, a dentist or healthcare provider can prescribe medications, like muscle relaxants or anti-anxiety drugs, to subside symptoms.
Can Teeth Grinding Cause Jowls?
Teeth grinding, or bruxism influences the teeth and jaw muscles. The root cause of jowls (the sagging skin or flesh beneath the jawline) is usually linked to factors like aging, genetics, and loss of skin elasticity. Bruxism can indirectly trigger jowls to form.
Bruxism can result in increased muscle activity in the jaw area, and consistent clenching of the jaw muscles can lead to muscle enlargement with time. This hypertrophy, infused with other elements such as aging and skin laxity, causes a more prominent jawline or the formation of jowls.
However, it’s important to note that the relationship between bruxism and the development of jowls is not a direct one. Certain factors, involving individual anatomy, lifestyle, and entire health, can impact the development of jowls.
Concluding Thoughts
If you are worried about your jawline sagging and wondering “Can teeth grinding change face shape?” We recommend that you start doing something about it.
You can consult Dr. Felix at Whole Health Dental Center. With 40 years of experience, he has mastered non-invasive oral health treatments. Dial (703) 385-6425 to book a consultation.