So, do you wake up with a headache and sore gums… And sometimes sores on your inner cheeks? Chances are it is because you’ve been biting at your cheeks at night!
And, that my friend, is the painful truth about Bruxism… enough with the complex scientific terms – basically that’s what happens if you suffer from a constant case of tooth grinding! But the question is – how do you stop tooth grinding?
It usually happens at night in your sleep, because you can’t control it. And you pay for it throughout the rest of the day…
Now, tooth grinding has a number of known causes. And the best way to stop it is to counter the different causes. But saying just that isn’t enough.
Actually there are a number of other things you can do… and here they are:
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#1 Reduce stress Stress is the no.1 cause of tooth grinding! Go for counselling, exercising, meditation or any other means to counter stress and it may just reduce teeth grinding at night. |
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#2 Caffeine will make it worse As it is a stimulant, caffeine stops your muscles from relaxing. This will just lead to more aggressive teeth grinding. |
#3 You are more likely to grind your teeth after a night out pubbing Because alcohol makes sleep restless and this worsens the grinding! As a result, alcohol is best avoided when you are trying to counter tooth grinding. |
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#4 Try to calm yourself (and your facial muscles) before going to bed
Massage your shoulder, neck and facial muscles in circular motions.
Listen to some soothing music that helps you to unwind and just relax. Use a warm compress and hold it over your lower jaw near the ears – this helps to relax the muscles there. |
| #5 Be conscious of tooth grinding during the day
Try to stop yourself from clenching your jaw – consciously!
Some people who grind their teeth at night also tend to absentmindedly chew on non-edible items (like pencils, pens or even gum) during the day. This habit just continues even when they sleep. So try to consciously stop it! |
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#6 Use supplements Calcium or Magnesium deficiencies can cause you to grind your teeth. In a bid to stop this, you could try some calcium or magnesium supplements. But mind you, the deficiency will take about 4-5 weeks to go away. Your teeth grinding won’t stop till then. |
#7 Get help from the dentist Get an appointment with your dentist. They may prescribe muscle relaxants to treat your condition. On the other hand, tooth grinding can lead to other problems with your teeth – since your teeth do get worn away with the constant grinding. The dentist can look into these as well. |
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#8 Mouth guard for teeth grinding This is another treatment your dentist may prescribe. A mouth guard fits over your jaws and protects your teeth from your destructive habit. Till you can kick the habit – this may be a good option to consider! |
Tooth grinding can be a pretty destructive habit. And it needs to stop ASAP! Because if it doesn’t you may end up with teeth which are pretty much good for nothing!
However, on the upside, tooth grinding is a condition that can be successfully treated – and you now know how to stop tooth grinding. So make the effort today!