Bruxism: UK scientists to develop headband that stops jaws clenching as you sleep

Scientists in the UK are developing a headband that can stop teeth grinding and jaw clenching – a condition thought to affect about a third of adults at some point in their life.

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have teamed up with JawSense, a medical technology start-up, to develop a device to treat bruxism.

While it is not always clear what causes people to grind their teeth, the condition has been linked to stress and anxiety, with symptoms including face, neck and shoulder pain, worn-down or broken teeth, headaches, earache, and disturbed sleep.

In some instances, bruxism can lead to a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which can cause pain and affect the movement of the jaw – and is estimated to cost the NHS more than £3 billion a year.

The researchers said that despite the prevalence of bruxism and its associated health consequences, there are currently no licensed treatments for bruxism or TMD available on the market, and the most frequently employed treatments for bruxism include mouthguards or Botox injections but they merely palliate bruxism’s effect on the jaws and teeth rather than stop the involuntary behaviour, the team said.

The hope is that the smart headband will be able to accurately detect episodes of bruxism with its sensor and generate gentle vibrations, which will raise awareness of the behaviour and help the jaw muscles to relax. The aim is for the headband to help people gradually learn to consciously relax their jaws and stop grinding their teeth and clenching their jaws.

The researchers said it is the first-of its-kind wearable being developed in the UK for bruxism that uses biofeedback – a technique that trains people to improve their health by controlling certain processes in the body that normally happen involuntarily.

Philippe Wilson, professor of one health at Nottingham Trent University and principal investigator in the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility, said: “This innovation would significantly enhance the lives of millions grappling with the debilitating effects of bruxism and TMD and substantially reduce the financial burden on the NHS and the economy. The health service has been grappling with these disorders, which are not only complex to diagnose but also lack licensed treatment which tackle the root cause.

“This would be a truly effective and data-driven treatment which will have a profound and lasting impact on public health and wellbeing.”

The project has received nearly £1 million funding from Innovate UK, which is part of UK Research and Innovation, with a working prototype due to be available soon.

Bas Borgdorff, chief executive of JawSense, said: “By making people aware of their behaviour we can help them to change it. The amazing thing is that research shows this learning behaviour can happen while people are asleep as well.

“This innovation represents a crucial step towards a future where bruxism and TMD can be effectively managed with personalised, non-invasive solutions, significantly improving quality of life and reducing healthcare costs.”