Bruxism or teeth grinding is harmful to your oral health and may also cause headaches and jaw pain. Our Tampa dentist has the tips you need to reduce your jaw clenching, teeth grinding, and painful symptoms. Learn top things to do to relieve pain, feel better, and protect your teeth and overall well being.
Ways to Prevent Teeth Grinding in the Day
Since teeth grinding is often associated with stress, stress reduction techniques can reduce the frequency of grinding and painful symptoms. Biofeedback, meditation, and mental health therapy are a few of the techniques people have used to relieve teeth grinding. Medication may be useful to address an underlying stress, anxiety, or mental health issue that may be contributing to your clenched teeth.
Behavior change also helps to reduce jaw pain. Simply by learning the natural positions of the jaw and mouth, then training yourself to hold your mouth in that position, you can reduce tension and pain. While it may feel like you’re constantly adjusting the position of your mouth, be patient. Over time, correct alignment of the jaw will come to feel natural and pain will lessen.
Finally, regular dental exams are important for the health of your teeth, gums, and jaw. Given that bruxism can have an impact on the health of your teeth, make it a point to visit the dentist for regular teeth cleanings.
Ways to Prevent Teeth Grinding at Night
While many people clench their jaw during the daytime due to stress or anxiety, others find they are clenching or grinding teeth during sleep. The best way to minimize teeth grinding while you sleep is by wearing a mouth guard. The mouth guard will prevent the teeth from touching, which reduces damage.
For some individuals, bruxism is one of a series of sleep disorders they experience. If you find that you grind your teeth and also suffer from sleep apnea or other conditions, treating the underlying condition may reduce teeth grinding as well.
If you suspect there is a correlation between stress and teeth grinding, you may find it helpful to engage in meditation, sleep yoga, or other mindfulness activities before you go to bed. When you turn out the light feeling relaxed, you’re less likely to grind teeth in the night.
If you’ve tried these techniques and still experience pain associated with bruxism, muscle relaxants could help. Ask your doctor to prescribe muscle relaxants as a short-term solution. By taking these before bed, you can get a good night’s sleep and avoid jaw pain.
See a Tampa Dentist
If your bruxism has not been treated, you may have wear and tear on the teeth that heighten sensitivity or make it difficult to chew. Our dentist can evaluate your teeth and recommend procedures that may safeguard your teeth, such as reshaping or realigning the teeth to promote health chewing, or using crowns to restore the appearance of your smile. It all starts with a consultation, so reserve your appointment today.