You may be shocked to learn that Bruxism, or the grinding or clenching of teeth, is a very common sleeping problem, almost as common as snoring. If it only happens sometimes, it’s not normally an issue, but chronic grinding can lead to major issues. In order to stop grinding teeth, you will first want to know what is causing it.
Clenching your teeth can be caused by lots of things – stress, an abnormal bite, missing or crooked teeth. It is considered both a dental and medical problem as it affects both the teeth and structures near teeth, including the head.
If you have noticed a constant, dull headache, your face or jaw is sore, you wake exhausted or are having earaches, you may be clenching your teeth during your sleep. If the problem happens regularly, you can cause your teeth to fracture, become loose or even have a loss of hearing.
As most people that grind their teeth normally do it at nighttime when they are sleeping, it may well be someone else who first notices that there is a problem. A spouse, parent or roommate may be kept awake by the sound of your teeth grinding. If you see your dentist regularly, he may begin to see the wear or fracturing of your teeth during your dental exam.
If you are aware that you are clenching your teeth and you know you have are stressed, there are things you can do to help alleviate the problem. You might want to try exercising or taking a walk in the evening to relax. Take a hot bath before bed. Put a warm, damp washcloth on your face for a few minutes before going to sleep to help relax your jaw muscles.
Be sure to see your dentist often. The dentist should see that there are issues before they get out of hand. He or she may make a mold of your mouth to fit you with a guard to use when you are sleeping if the problem is due to a tooth or bite issue. You can also find some guards at the drugstore, but seek your dentist’s advice first.
Taking care of the problem quickly when you know it is happening is the best thing you can do to make sure there aren’t larger issues down the road.
For more help to stop grinding teeth take a look at this simple, effective hypnosis for tooth grinding.