Approximately 25% of adults around the world have a chronic habit of grinding their teeth, especially as they sleep. Not only can this habit annoy your partner, but it could pose a threat to your oral health.
The constant grating of the top teeth against your bottom teeth generates pressure. This pressure could wear down your teeth, disturb your dental work, or cause an oral injury.
Ignoring teeth grinding could lead to irreversible dental damage and leave you needing costly dentistry repairs. Dr. Goyal can help you resolve this harmful habit. Read on to find three ways that you can stop grinding your teeth and protect your smile.
Tips for Alleviating Bruxism
Relieve Underlying Stress
When you feel stressed, you may hold tension in your body. That can present as a tightening of muscles in the jaw. This may lead you to clench or grind your teeth, even if you may not realize you are doing it. If stress is causing bruxism, relieving this tension can help you stop this habit.
Deep breathing and exercise can help you let go of tension. This loosens your muscles so that you will be less likely to grind your teeth. Your dentist can also recommend face and jaw stretches that can help certain muscles relax to reduce the likelihood of unconscious bruxism.
Wear a Night Guard
It can be difficult to stop behavior that happens as you sleep when you are not aware you are doing it. Your dentist can help you protect your smile from unconscious teeth grinding by giving you a custom-made night guard to wear overnight.
The custom oral appliance will fit only your unique smile. It will fit comfortably and keep your jaw in a position where the surrounding muscles can rest during the night. You can feel confident the guard will not slip out of place as you sleep.
The night guard also will cushion against teeth grinding that may happen during the night. This way, your teeth and prior dental work will not sustain damage from the grating of hard teeth against one another. Talk to Dr. Goyal to learn if this device can help your unique dental scenario.
Fix Bite Problems
Stress is not the only cause of chronic bruxism. Sometimes you may grind your teeth if your mouth doesn’t close properly because of crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw. The pressure when performing normal oral functions like chewing can create uneven wear on your smile as well in these scenarios.
If this is the case, your dentist can use orthodontics to straighten your smile and amend these bite problems. Depending on the severity of your malocclusion, your dentist may suggest different types of teeth straightening solutions.
Braces and other orthodontic treatments will successfully align the teeth and the jaw to a straighter position that can alleviate many oral discomforts. Patients with more minor alignment concerns might benefit from Invisalign. These plastic aligners will shift teeth to a proper alignment with a more subtle treatment than braces.
Rethink Your Daytime Habits to Protect Your Smile at Night
While a night guard protects your teeth while you sleep, tackling daytime habits can address the root cause of the tension. Many people subconsciously clench their jaw or press their tongue against their teeth while concentrating, driving, or working on a computer.
A simple trick is to practice keeping your lips together but your teeth apart during the day. Place the tip of your tongue between your teeth to train your jaw muscles to relax. Also, be mindful of what you eat and drink. Cutting back on caffeine, like coffee and soda, and avoiding chewing on non-food items like pens or pencils can significantly reduce the strain on your jaw muscles.
Know the Signs: Are You Grinding Your Teeth Without Realizing It?
Since teeth grinding often happens during sleep, many people are completely unaware they’re doing it. However, your body sends out several warning signals. Waking up with a dull headache or soreness in your jaw is a major red flag. You might also notice that your teeth look flatter at the tips or that the edges have developed small chips or cracks.
Another common sign is increased tooth sensitivity, as the constant grinding can wear down the protective enamel. If your partner mentions hearing grinding noises at night or you find yourself clenching your jaw during stressful moments in the day, it’s time to talk to Dr. Goyal. Recognizing these symptoms early is the first step to preventing long-term damage.
When to Seek Professional Help: It’s More Than Just Your Teeth
If lifestyle changes and a night guard aren’t providing enough relief, it might be time to explore other professional avenues. In some cases, bruxism can be a side effect of certain medications or linked to other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. Dr. Goyal can help you decide if a referral to your doctor or a sleep specialist is a necessary next step.
For severe pain and tension, treatments like physical therapy or Botox injections can be highly effective. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen and relax your jaw muscles, while Botox can temporarily paralyze the overactive muscles responsible for intense clenching. Dr. Goyal can guide you through these options to find a comprehensive solution that brings you lasting comfort. Give us a call today at 410-670-8211 or request an appointment online.