Why are my teeth chattering if Im not cold?

Q. What might cause teeth to chatter other than the cold?

A. There are several kinds of involuntary jaw movements, said Dr. Steven Syrop, section chief of temporomandibular disorders at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, and it is important to distinguish chattering from grinding and from still another problem, called oromandibular dystonia. “Teeth chattering is usually related to shivering, which is the body’s response to cold,” Dr. Syrop said, but it can also result from an infection causing chills.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is thought to be a habit aggravated by stress, he said. The exact cause is not known, but recent evidence has de-emphasized the role of occlusion, or the way the upper and lower teeth come together. “Different from this is when the jaw muscles contract and relax spontaneously, producing constant jaw movement,” Dr. Syrop said. “This is called oromandibular dystonia.” This kind of motion can be the result of several different medical conditions, including reaction to certain medications.

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Credit...Victoria Roberts

According to the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, oromandibular dystonia is one of more than a dozen kinds of dystonia, in which the neurological mechanism that makes muscles relax when they are not in use does not function properly. The contractions can interfere with chewing and swallowing.

Treatments include injections of botulinum toxin, oral medications and speech and swallowing therapy.

C. CLAIBORNE RAY

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Most often people associate teeth chattering with being cold. Being cold can definitely cause your teeth to chatter, but there are number of other reasons why it may be happening. Below you will find the most common causes, treatment options, and when it’s time to see a doctor.

Emotional Stress: A common symptom of stress, anxiety, and panic is called bruxism. It is most well known as teeth grinding. It can also result in teeth chattering. While the link between emotional stress and teeth chattering isn’t fully clear, researchers hypothesize that muscle spasms and tremors are symptoms of panic, anxiety, and stress

If you experience this, contact your doctor and see what they can do. Most often treatment options include medication or talk therapy. Your medical provider can discuss what would be best for you.

Withdrawal: Alcohol and drug withdrawal can be accompanied by teeth chattering. It is referred to as a drug-induced tremor. Because your system is in withdrawal, the tremors are induced because you do not have the drug in your system. This is because your brain has become accustomed to getting used to the rush of dopamine that occurs when the substances are taken that it ultimately becomes dependent on them. Coming off of drugs or alcohol use means that your brain has to compensate for the loss of the drug as it has become dependent on it. This causes muscle spasms and can make your teeth chatter.

You should not experience withdrawal alone and it should likely be under medical supervision. Talk with your doctor about your options. Often there are medications that can help with your symptoms of withdrawal. Or, you may be able to slowly ease off of the substance to mitigate major issues concerning withdrawal.

Neurological Disorders: Teeth chattering can be an early sign of certain neurological disorders. Certain conditions can make the muscles in your jaw, face, and mouth contract and relax involuntarily which can include your teeth chattering.

If you experience teeth chatter and the muscles in your face contracting and relaxing you should contact a medical professional. Early diagnosis and treatment is important for these conditions.

Medication Side Effects: Some medications like antidepressants or antipsychotic medications are known to cause bruxism and teeth chattering. This is because they interact with neurons in your brain that react to high levels of serotonin and a deficit in dopamine which can cause chatter.

If you are getting unwanted side effects from your medication, contact your doctor. You may need to try something else or use alternative medicines for treatment if the side effects are too severe.

Being Cold: The most common reason your teeth chatter is because you are cold! Shivering is a warming process that automatically kicks in when your internal body temperature drops too low. If your body temperature drops too low you can go into hypothermia. Shivering activates the muscles in your body to move to warm up your body tissue. This raises your internal body temperature closer to normal. As for the teeth chatter, your jaw twitches and spasms when the muscles contract and relax which results in your teeth chattering.

When Should I See a Medical Professional?

If you experience teeth chattering any additional symptoms for more than a few days, contact a medical professional. If you know the reason for it there is not cause for concern, but if you are unclear it’s important to get checked out.

In addition to seeing your medical provider, it’s important to get seen by a dentist as well. Teeth can become worn down or damaged due to chattering and grinding.

Dentists in Chino Hills, California

If you are struggling grinding your teeth, teeth chattering, or any other dental care issue, contact the dentists at Dental Care of Chino Hills. The dentists provide patients with complete treatment plans to help with any dental issues. They use restorative and cosmetic dentistry based on whatever your dental needs are. Contact the office today for an appointment!

By: Br. Elizabeth Eggert

That Have Nothing to Do with Being Cold

You’re watching your kid play football or soccer on a beautiful fall afternoon when the sun goes down, bringing the temperature down with it. You’ve forgotten your coat, so you start to shiver. Soon, your teeth are chattering. Next game, you’ll come prepared!

We’ve all experienced teeth chattering from chilly temperatures. It’s a normal bodyresponse to feeling cold. But sometimes, your teeth chatter when you’re perfectly comfortable. When they do, it’s time to give the chattering a second thought. Here are four reasons why your teeth could be chattering that have nothing to do with the chill in the fall air.

1. You grind your teeth.
Usually, patients who grind their teeth suffer from teeth clenching, not chattering. But intense teeth grinding can cause spasms in your jaw that result in chattering teeth. If your teeth grinding is this severe, please schedule a consultation with us. If left untreated, you could do some major damage to your teeth – from wearing them out to even cracking them in half.

2. You’re taking a medication that may cause tremors as a side effect.
Several common medications can cause trembling and as a result, teeth chattering. If you take medications to treat high blood pressure, asthma, cancer, or another condition, your teeth chattering may be a drug side effect. Call your doctor to report your symptoms and confirm that the medication is the cause. Talk with your doctor about adjusting your dose or trying another medication that doesn’t cause chattering side effects.

3. You’re experiencing a very high level of stress or anxiety.
Teeth chattering is a physiological response to very high levels of anxiety, just like a pounding heart, high blood pressure, and an adrenaline rush. If you’re under consistently high stress at work or at home, your teeth chattering may be a response to your anxiety level. Speak with a doctor to learn how you can reduce your stress and stop the chattering.

4. You have a neurological condition.
Teeth chattering can be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease and a symptom of Tourette’s Syndrome. Both can cause involuntary tremors and trembling throughout the body, including in the jaw. If you’ve ruled out all other causes, schedule an appointment with a neurologist to rule out one of these conditions.

If your teeth are chattering and you’re not cold, it’s important to figure out the reason why. Schedule an appointment at Eggert Family Dentistry to discover if you’ve been clenching and grinding your teeth. We can provide solutions that will ease the grinding and put a stop to the chattering.

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Why are my teeth chattering if Im not cold?

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