When it's cold, why does the body not only shiver but also cause the teeth to chatter? This seemingly simple reflex actually hides a sophisticated heat-generating mechanism in the human body.
Cold weather
According to Healthline , the most common cause of teeth clashing together is the body feeling cold.
Teeth chattering in cold weather is an easily recognizable sign of the body's natural heat-retention reflex (Photo: Getty).
Specifically, this mechanism involves the shivering reflex, an automatic heat-generating process of the body.
When core body temperature drops below the normal threshold, around 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius, the central nervous system activates the shivering reflex to generate more heat and maintain thermoregulation.
While 37 degrees Celsius is generally considered stable, in reality, normal body temperature can fluctuate within a certain range.
When body temperature drops below an individual's normal level, this condition is called hypothermia.
During shivering, all muscle groups in the body contract and relax involuntarily at a high rate.
These rapid mechanical movements help generate heat, warming the tissues and thereby raising body temperature back to near-normal levels.
The muscles involved in this reflex are not only in the hands, feet, or trunk, but also include the facial and jaw muscles, especially those of the temporomandibular joint.
These are the muscles that connect the jawbone to the skull, and they are also the area affected in temporomandibular joint disorders, where the jaw can become stiff.
When these muscles contract and relax continuously, the jaw will experience slight vibrations or spasms, causing the upper and lower teeth to constantly clash together, creating the phenomenon of teeth chattering.
Emotional stress or panic
In cases unrelated to cold, psychological factors, particularly stress and anxiety disorders, are considered the next most significant causes.
Teeth grinding is a common symptom of stress, anxiety, and panic. This teeth grinding can also lead to teeth clashing together.
A 2010 study of 470 people showed that anxiety and depression are strongly linked to teeth grinding. This explains why teeth can chatter when a person is under prolonged stress or anxiety.
According to researchers, teeth-grinding, a condition associated with anxiety or panic disorders, is becoming increasingly common.
The exact mechanism causing teething in these cases is still not fully understood, but it may be related to muscle spasms and tremors, which are accompanying symptoms of anxiety and panic disorders.
Quit alcohol or drugs.
Tremors and chattering teeth are common symptoms of alcohol or drug withdrawal syndrome, also known as substance withdrawal tremors. In this case, the tremors occur because the body suddenly lacks the substances it previously depended on.
Shaking and teeth chattering during alcohol or drug withdrawal occur because the brain has become accustomed to the "burst" of neurotransmitters like dopamine when stimulants are present. When use is stopped, the brain must adapt to the sharp drop or deficiency of these substances.
This results in motor disorders, causing involuntary muscle movements, including spasms of the facial and jaw muscles, leading to teeth chattering.
Additionally, some cases of teething have been reported when caffeine consumption is reduced or stopped, a psychoactive substance that affects the production of neurotransmitters such as adenosine and dopamine.
If your teeth chatter in cold weather, it's usually not a cause for concern, as long as your body is warmed up in time.
However, when teeth grinding occurs for no apparent reason, we should investigate the underlying cause or adjust our lifestyle to reduce the frequency of teeth grinding and clenching.