Sleep probably isn’t your favourite thing in the world if you’re like most people who read this post. But for people like me who grind their teeth, that can be a constant battle. Even when we try to relax and get some much-needed rest, we may wake up with headaches or jaw pain from grinding our teeth. There are a lot of things we can do to help stop or even control our teeth grinding. Let’s look at what bruxism is, how common it is, and what you can do about it.
What does Bruxism mean?
When you grind your teeth, you can hurt or bruise them. This is called bruxism. This includes teeth that are broken, worn down, or chipped. Depending on how bad your teeth grinding is, it could cause painful tooth damage or even cause you to lose teeth. You could also get a headache, neck pain, or even TMJ problems if you grind your teeth. To grind your teeth easily and comfortably, you have to wear down the enamel on your teeth. The hard coating on your teeth is called enamel. When you grind your teeth, the enamel gets worn down. Once you’ve worn down the enamel, you can get your teeth and gums to touch each other better. Because teeth grinding hurts your teeth, not only can you hurt your teeth, but you may also feel pain in your teeth. Not only could teeth grinding hurt your teeth, but it could also cause problems with your TMJ.
Before we talk about how to treat bruxism, it’s important to know what causes it. Now that you know what teeth grinding is, let’s talk about the different ways to treat it.
How to stop Bruxism
As we’ve already talked about, there are a lot of things you can do to stop grinding your teeth. There are other ways to stop teeth grinding if you don’t want to take medicine or use a dental appliance. Here are some easy ways to stop grinding your teeth. You may already be doing many of these things. If so, you might not even realize how well they work. Keep your mouth quiet and relaxed. When you’re stressed or worried, try not to clench or grind your teeth. When you are worried or stressed, your body goes into a “fight or flight” mode. This makes your body make adrenaline, which makes the muscles in your face tighten. This could include the muscles in your jaw, which can cause bruxism. The best way to stop this from happening is to keep your mouth relaxed. Keeping your mouth loose will help you feel less stressed, which can make it less likely that you’ll grind your teeth when you’re upset. Stay hydrated – Drink a glass of water when you’re thirsty. Drinking a lot of water is the best way to stay hydrated and lower your risk of teeth grinding. This will not only cut down on the amount of saliva your mouth makes, but it will also cut down on the amount of time your teeth touch each other. Don’t stick your tongue out – Another way to keep your teeth from touching each other as much as possible is to keep your tongue in your mouth. When you don’t grind your teeth, your tongue should be in the back of your mouth. Your teeth can hit the back of your tongue if you move your tongue. When your tongue is in the back of your mouth, your teeth don’t come into contact with it as much.
Bruxism is a sleep disorder that affects many people. People with it may grind their teeth while they sleep, which can damage their teeth and cause problems with their TMJ. There are ways to reduce the damage that bruxism does to your teeth and even your health, which is good news if you have it. Some of these are having a relaxed mouth, keeping your tongue in your mouth, and drinking a lot of water. These are easy ways to stop grinding your teeth without going to the doctor or getting a prescription. With these tips, you can stop grinding your teeth at night and start to sleep better.
Make your appointment today with Dr. Rob Andrew and Urban Smiles Family Dental. 780.989.6030
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