Do you clench or grind your teeth? This is something that many of us do when we’re feeling stressed out or frustrated. Some people, however, get into the habit of clenching and grinding most of the time, even while they sleep! Because grinding, also called bruxism, can cause pain as well as tooth damage, it’s important to get a handle on it. Here’s what you need to know about how to stop grinding your teeth.
Symptoms of Grinding
You might not grind during the day, so you may be unaware of your tendencies to clench and grind. Some of the symptoms of bruxism include:
- Soreness in the jaw.
- Soreness in the teeth upon chewing or sensitivity to hot and cold on several teeth.
- A dull headache that persists.
- Worn molars or chipped fillings.
- A partner who complains that you grind your teeth all night long.
How to Stop
Identifying the problem is the first step toward alleviating your tooth-grinding. Once you are aware of it, you might be able to stop clenching and grinding during the day, when you are awake. You can try reminding yourself by placing a rubber band on one wrist. Every time you catch yourself grinding, move the band to the other wrist. Something as simple as this can act as a good reminder and help you to stop the habit.
What about when you are sleeping, though? Here are a few things that might help:
- Reduce stress. This is good for anyone, and since many dentists think that the main cause of bruxism is stress, this can definitely reduce your propensity to clench and grind your teeth. Try yoga, regular exercise, or meditation. Even some gentle stretching or a hot bath before bed can help bring down your stress
level. If you are worried about the amount of stress that you have in your life, talk to your doctor about it. - Talk to your dentist about getting a nightguard. This is a removable dental appliance that will help distribute the pressure that you’re putting on your teeth when you grind them in your sleep. Instead of doing damage to your teeth, you can wear out the nightguard instead.
- Ease your jaw pain. If you are clenching and grinding your teeth to the point that you are causing jaw pain, find ways to relax the muscles. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) can help temporarily. Massage and warm compresses can also help. If the pain is bad, try to avoid eating chewy foods for a while; stick to softer foods that can be swallowed without much chewing.
If you notice that tooth clenching and grinding is becoming a problem, give us a call and schedule an appointment. We can check your teeth to see if there has been any damage and see if you are a candidate for a nightguard. We can also give you more tips on keeping your teeth healthy as you work on reducing your stress level. You don’t have to live with tooth and jaw pain; we can help!
