When it comes to your teeth, there are many things you need to consider. One issue you can have with your teeth is teeth grinding. This is a somewhat common occurrence, and there are things you can do to prevent it.
What Is Teeth Grinding?
According to Mayo Clinic, teeth grinding is a condition where you gnash, grind, or clench your teeth together. Its formal name is bruxism. You may clench your teeth when you’re awake and don’t even realize it. Some people also grind their teeth while sleeping, which is referred to as sleep bruxism. This is considered a sleep-related disorder. Having sleep bruxism means you have an increased likelihood of other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or snoring. If you have severe bruxism it can lead to headaches, jaw disorders, and damaged teeth.
How To Stop Grinding
If you grind your teeth, there are solutions to fix the problem. WebMD says if you grind your teeth due to stress, you need to discuss this with your doctor. They will offer you suggestions on how to bring your stress level down to lead to less grinding. Another solution is to get a mouth guard. This won’t stop you from doing the teeth grinding motion, but it will prevent your teeth from actually grinding against each other.
WebMD offers some other tips to help stop grinding your teeth:
- Cut back on caffeine, coffee, and chocolate
- Don’t drink alcohol
- Avoid chewing on any substances that are not food. This includes gum, as chewing gum gets your jaw muscles used to clenching. This makes it more likely you will grind your teeth.
- Train yourself not to grind your teeth. When you notice you’re clenching or grinding during the day, put your tongue between your teeth. This will help your jaws relax.
- Relax your muscles at night by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek. You should do this in front of your earlobe.
At Westmoreland Dental Group, we want to help you with your teeth. Contact us today for more information.