Bruxing or Clenching Your Teeth?

When it comes to the negative side effects of sports and athletic activity, we usually think of sore muscles and overuse injuries. Hyperextensions, shin splints, and tendonitis are all fairly common.

However, the adverse effects on oral health are among the lesser-known downsides to high-impact activity. Certain exercises can contribute to xerostomia (dry mouth) and bruxing, also known as clenching or grinding your teeth.

Many athletic activities that encourage extensive, rapid mouth breathing, such as marathon running, can promote bacterial buildup in the mouth. This can eventually lead to xerostomia and tooth decay. Long-distance swimming in improperly chlorinated pools can also contribute to dental erosion.

One of the toughest activities on teeth, however, is weightlifting.

Bruxing and Weightlifting

Jaw clenching often accompanies weightlifting. This is because the masseter, a muscle along the jaw that opens and closes the mouth, functions together with muscles in the legs, arms, and back.

When these muscles engage, the muscles in the face tighten, resulting in bruxism—the clenching, bracing, or grinding of the teeth.

Competitive powerlifting activities such as squatting and deadlifting can cause an increase in facial muscle activity, leading to bruxing. Bruxing during squats and deadlifts may help improve stability and allow an athlete to lift heavier weights.

However, this activity places serious weightlifters at a higher risk of long-term dental damage.

What Kind of Dental Damage?

Chronic bruxism can contribute to several unpleasant dental conditions. Intense contraction of the mastication muscles, which is required during bruxing, can cause muscle irritation.

This irritation often results in:

• Pain in the ear and face

• Reduced range of motion of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

• Grating and friction in the jaw during chewing or other jaw movements

These symptoms can contribute to or worsen neck pain, headaches, earaches, and other forms of facial pain.

Severe bruxing can also damage dental restorations such as crowns and resin-based restorations. For this reason, metal-ceramic or full-metal restorations may be recommended for patients who are chronic bruxers to better withstand the forces placed on the teeth.

How Can I Prevent Bruxing?

Certain practices may help reduce bruxing during athletic activities.

• Exhaling during the completion of a lifting movement may help prevent excessive clenching.

• Increasing awareness of jaw tension during exercise can help minimize unnecessary grinding and clenching.

• Discuss any concerns with your dentist, who may be able to identify early signs of bruxism and provide personalized recommendations.

Awareness is extremely important. While reducing clenching can help protect your teeth and jaw from damage, it may also affect lifting performance for some athletes.

There are additional ways to minimize the negative effects of bruxing.

• Custom mouth guards can be worn to reduce grinding and absorb excessive forces.

• Regular dental evaluations can help identify wear patterns before significant damage occurs.

These preventive measures can help protect your teeth from long-term damage, allowing you to continue building strength and muscle mass without compromising your oral health.

Protecting Your Smile

At Preserve Your Teeth Dentistry, we believe prevention and early intervention are the keys to maintaining a healthy smile.

If you participate in weightlifting or other high-impact athletic activities and are concerned about clenching or grinding your teeth, schedule an evaluation with our team. We can help identify early signs of bruxism and recommend strategies to protect your teeth for years to come.