2024-01-01 12:31:00
Amal Allam wrote Monday, January 1, 2024 02:31 PM
The Independent newspaper revealed that a headband had been found to stop… Teeth grinding and jaw clenching during sleep, to help people gradually learn how to consciously relax their jaw.
Scientists in the United Kingdom are working to develop a headband that can stop teeth grinding and jaw clenching – a condition believed to affect regarding a third of adults at some point in their lives. Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have collaborated with a medical technology start-up to develop the device with the aim of treating… Bruxism. While it’s not always clear what causes people to grind their teeth, the condition has been linked to stress and anxiety. Symptoms can include face, neck, and shoulder pain, worn or broken teeth, headaches, earache, and disturbed sleep.
The newspaper said that, in some cases, tooth grinding can lead to a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which can cause pain and affect jaw movement.
Despite the prevalence of bruxism and its associated health consequences, there are currently no licensed treatments for bruxism or TMJ disorders available on the market, the researchers said.
The team added that the most commonly used treatments for bruxism include mouth guards or Botox injections, but they only mitigate the impact of bruxism on the jaws and teeth rather than stopping the involuntary behavior. The hope is that the smart headband will be able to accurately detect episodes of bruxism using its sensor. Generating gentle vibrations, which will increase awareness of the behavior and help the jaw muscles to relax, the headband is expected to help people gradually learn how to consciously relax their jaws and stop grinding their teeth and clenching their jaws.
The researchers confirmed that this is the first wearable device of its kind in the United Kingdom to treat bruxism that uses biofeedback, a technology that trains people to improve their health by controlling certain processes in the body that usually occur involuntarily.
Philip Wilson, Professor of Health at the University of Nottingham, and principal investigator at the Center for Medical Technology Innovation, said: “This innovation will significantly enhance the lives of millions who suffer from the debilitating effects of bruxism and temporomandibular joint disorder and significantly reduce the financial burden on patients.”
“The health service is grappling with these disorders, which are not only difficult to diagnose, but also lack licensed treatment that addresses the root cause. This will be an effective, data-driven treatment that will have a profound and lasting impact on public health and wellbeing.”
The amazing thing is that research shows that this learning behavior can happen while people are sleeping as well. This innovation represents a crucial step towards a future where bruxism and TMJ disorder can be effectively managed with personalized, non-surgical solutions, resulting in a significantly improved quality of life. Significantly reduce health care costs.
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