How To Stop Grinding Teeth

A very common sleep disorder, almost as common as snoring, is the clenching or grinding of teeth, or “Bruxism”. When it only happens from time to time, there is not normally reason to be worried, but when it’s constant, it can lead to major problems. In order to stop grinding teeth you must discover the reason you are doing it.
Bruxism may result from stress or anxiety, having a misaligned bite, or crooked or missing teeth. Regarded as both a dental and medical issue, it can affect not only the teeth, but also structures near the teeth such as 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.
Stress can be a major contributor to teeth clenching. There are ways to help decrease your stress level before going to bed. A hot bath may help you relax as well as a leisurely stroll around your block. To help your jaw muscles relax before going to bed, try putting a warm, damp cloth on your face for a few minutes.
Having a regular dental check up is the best way to spot problems before they become big issues. Your dentist may fit you with a mouth guard to wear at night if your problem is caused by an abnormal bite or missing teeth. You can also find some mouth guards available without a prescription from your local pharmacy, but you will want to ask your dentist first to make sure that you don’t need a guard that is fitted exclusively for you.
If you alleviate your stress or see your dentist as soon as you know you are grinding your teeth, you will save yourself major problems down the road.