If you wake up with a sore jaw or a dull headache, you might be grinding or clenching your teeth at night.
Teeth Grinding or Bruxism
Happens on a regular basis to many of us, it can gradually wear the tooth enamel, dentin, damage dental work and even break pieces off your teeth. There are several reasons why it happens. Stress or anxiety is one of the major causes along with pain and drugs. If a grinding habit is combined with crooked or missing teeth it’s destructive effects are more devastating.
4 ways to reduce the damage from tooth grinding
- Wear a mouth guard at night. An occlusal splint will help protect your teeth when you grind them.
- Reduce stress. Stress is a major cause for bruxism. Try exercising, meditation, taking a warm bath, read a good book or use other ways, that will help you relax. Make an extra effort to relax right before bedtime.
- Relax your jaw muscles. Stress throughout the day is a sure way to get tense muscles that are prone to clench. Practice giving yourself mini jaw massages and avoid chewing on hard objects like pencils or biting your nails.
- Be mindful of your jaw. Find if you are grinding your teeth during the day, check your jaw position repeatedly. If you find your muscles clenched, relax them as soon as you notice it.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have more questions about tooth grinding or to make appointment to find a solution for your tooth grinding problems.