How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth
Many people grind their teeth in their sleep. The grinding, fueled by stress, anxiety or crooked teeth, is pretty harmful to your teeth, jaw and even your hearing. Dental work like crowns, bridges and root canals can also be damaged. Such an occurrence should be stopped as soon as possible. Here are several ways to deal with bruxism or chronic teeth grinding.
Have your Teeth Straightened
Having crooked teeth can cause bruxism, since the jaw is stressed when placed in its supposed rest position. In this case, you should pay your dentist a visit so he or she can directly address the problem. The dentist will either taper off the protruding portions or remove some of the teeth, depending on the situation. After the procedure, the grinding should be gone. If it persists, your case is definitely stress-related.
Wear a Mouth Guard
The mouth guard is built specially to protect your teeth from chronic grinding. It acts as a protective layer, separating the top and bottom layers of your teeth. Its frame is made from acrylic or plastic, which is sturdy enough to absorb the grinding without damaging your teeth. When you plan to use a mouth guard, make sure it is always clean, otherwise it may cause cavities to appear.
Mini Breaks at Work
Stress and anxiety are the main causes of bruxism, so naturally, you should ease some of the tension at work and at home. When you start feeling stressed, take a mini break from whatever you’re doing. You can listen to music or think of something funny. Your stress level will gradually go down, making you feel refreshed right after. Take a mini break whenever necessary and you’ll be more productive, not to mention bruxism-free.
Bath Before Bedtime
Taking a bath is pretty relaxing. It soothes your tired muscles and rids you off the days stresses and anxieties. Before going to bed, take a nice warm bath. Play soft music in the background, so your mind will be relaxed even further. When you go to bed, you’ll feel sleepy yet rejuvenated, which in effect, prevents chronic teeth grinding.
Avoid Alcohol
Some people resort to drinking alcohol so they can sleep faster. The problem is, the sleep it induces isn’t the relaxed kind, considering the heavy feeling you’ll feel when you wake up. Alcohol is a known cause of bruxism.
Bruxism is not easy to detect since the grinding happens when you’re asleep. If you wake up with an aching jaw and teeth, chances are, you might have the condition. Just apply any of the measures mentioned to stop the grinding.