Everybody moves their jaws while sleeping. For one: this way saliva can be spread more evenly in the mouth and for two:  respiratory tracts stay clear.Unfortunately there are some people that clench their teeth and move their jaws at the same time.This is called teeth grinding.

The first reason for this is definately Stress. Teeth clenching is a kind if physical reaction of the body to Stress. When we concentrate or strain ourselves we instinctively clench our teeth. This constant readiness makes muscles in the body tighten. When we are awake we need this movement so we can e.g.defend ourself but when we sleep we sort of  relive these unconfortable situations and tighten our mastcatory muscles.

Researches show that this abnormal jaw movement can be observed by people that live in constant stress and with social problems.Not to mention the fact that the pain they feel is not only a simple cheek or a neck ache.
Although there are people suffering from bruxism that sleep very well.
Let’s see this other case:
When the upper and lower teeth do not touch properly we unconsciously try to even the surfice of our teeth. This way the left and right muscles would tighten evenly and all the teeth would get the same pressure. If the denture can not find comfortable position it tries to find it and this “searching” results in teeth grinding. Of course there are several people with uneven teeth that do not suffer from teeth grinding but if they have this clinching instinct it can be brought to the surfice any time. Probably everybody grinds their teeth sometimes but if it turns abnormal it can cause the disorder of the teeth and also sleeping problems.

Reflexes

Researchers of Adelaide University of Australia found out that by stimulating the mechano or pressure sensors, incentive and obstructive reflexes can be provoked in the masticatory muscles. These reflexes have a huge role in chewing. With the help of them the openness and closeness of jaws can be controlled. When we chew we do not have our mouth open otherwise the bite would fall out.

Then again we also feel if we chew on a piece of bone or nutshell and this time obstructive reflexes start to work.We suddenly slow down the jaw movement and our teeth stay undemaged. We know that by knocking the front teeth we involuntarily open our mouth, but less people know that by knocking the eye teeth or the grinders the clanching reflexes start to work. If there is a small and hard surficed object between the upper and lower teeth and thus only the front teeth touch, the clanching reflex relaxes.

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