Teeth clenching and grinding is a problem for many people but they don’t usually become aware of it until the dentist examines their teeth. Tell-tale signs of this problem include worn down or cracked teeth, headaches and jaw pain. But because the behavior most often occurs during sleeping hours, you may not be aware of being a grinder yourself. Other times, people grind their teeth during stressful situations but they generally do it unconsciously.
Thankfull, there are solutions to this problem and a nightguard or mouthguard may have already been recommended to you by your dentist. It’s an appliance that you wear while you sleep and it needs to be properly fitted to your bite, otherwise it will slide around in your mouth and not do you any good.
It is possible to obtain less expensive appliances at the pharmacy however you will likely cause your teeth more damage than it’s worth. There are a variety of different kinds of mouthguards available that your dentist can discuss with you – each of them offering a different level of comfort.
As mentioned earlier, teeth clenching and grinding is often a reaction to stress. So, rather than using a band-aid solution like a mouthguard, work on managing your stress levels. You may not even be aware that you’re stressed but if you grind your teeth, then you are and emotions that are not being expressed during the day are coming out in your behavior at night.
If you take the time to learn how to manage your stress levels and your emotions, you will be more likely to solve the problem for the long term. A mouthguard is however a good solution for the short term but it is not the only answer.
If you are someone who consumes a lot of caffeine or sugar during the day, you will need to cut back or quit it completely. Of course, sugar and caffeine fuel stressful emotions. Also check out a yoga, meditation or tai chi class. Because these exercises are gentle and require focus and breathing, you learn how to allow your body to relax. It doesn’t happen overnight but your body does begin to respond suprisingly quickly.
If you have a problem with teeth clenching and grinding, then you’ll want to check out Bruxism Treatment for a solution.