Have you ever woken up in the morning with pains in your jaw like you just did 3 rounds with a heavyweight boxing champion? Are your teeth aching when you wake up and you’ve noticed that your teeth are looking worn and even cracked in places? If so you’re probably dealing with a condition called bruxism or what’s more commonly known as teeth grinding. This basically means that you’re grinding or severely clenching your teeth while you’re asleep and this will cause more serious dental health problems if left untreated.
Why do people grind their teeth?
So why do people do this to themselves? Well because you’re asleep at the time, the first you’ll know of grinding your teeth is waking up with sore jaws or a headache. The main reasons that people grind their teeth while they’re snoozing the night away are because of stress, tension or anxiety.
In the same way that our fears, desires and concerns are played out through our dreams each night our daily stresses and worries can manifest themselves in a physiological way in teeth grinding. Also a lot of people tend to grind their teeth or heavily clench their teeth during the REM stage of their sleeping pattern when they’re most likely to dream.
Around 75% of people grind their teeth during the night at least a few times during their life and if it’s an occasional issue then it’s nothing for you to really worry about. But if you’re grinding your teeth every single night then you need to do take action now to stop the problem becoming worse and causing serious dental problems.
What kind of dental problems?
Well if you have a teeth grinding problem and you don’t stop it then it can lead to damage to your TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) which is the joint in your body which connects your jaw to the rest of your skull. The first sign of there being a problem with your TMJ is an ongoing clicking feeling and noise when you’re chewing or talking. If you don’t treat this problem pretty quickly it can actually result in you needing surgery to correct the problem with your Temporomandibular joint later on. Then you have to take into account the damage being done to your adult teeth – they’re getting worn and cracked from the relentless grinding they have to endure every single night while you’re asleep.
So as you can see teeth grinding is a problem you need to take seriously and you definitely need to visit your dentist or orthodontist to get checked up and see what recommendations they can make in terms of treatment and correction of the problem.
So what can you do to deal with the problem of bruxism/teeth grinding?
The first thing you really need to do is protect your teeth and jaws from any further damage. The single best way to go about this is to have your dentist or local dental specialist fit you for what’s called a teeth grinding mouth guard ( sometimes referred to as a night guard). This is a mouthpiece (similar to a gum shield) that you wear each night when you’re sleeping. A teeth grinding mouth guard is made from a material that’s softer than your tooth enamel so even if you grind into the guard it’s not going to damage your teeth any further.
A teeth grinding mouth guard is also good for your mouth in general because it give the muscle in your mouth a different position to rest and function in. So it’s like a Pilates routine for your mouth in a way – those muscles are getting an extra bit of stretching that will keep them strong.
So what makes a good teeth grinding mouth guard?
Try to avoid a one-size-fits-all night guard because the reality is that one size doesn’t fit all and trying to save a few bucks could wind up costing you thousands in dental surgery years from now. Also definitely *do not* just use a sports guard as a cheap replacement for a proper bruxism teeth grinding mouth guard – they’re made from totally different materials and designed for totally different purposes.
Custom molded guards that stop you grinding your teeth are going to cost more money but you’re also going to get a higher quality guard that’s far more durable and created for the exact shape of your mouth – and all of this work done by a dentist who knows exactly what they’re doing. Always remember when it comes to your dental health and hygiene that it’s never an expense – it’s always an investment in the future of your smile.
And of course at the root of every bruxism problem is stress so while the teeth grinding mouth guard is keeping your teeth intact you need to look at what’s actually causing your stress or anxiety in the first place. If you can’t figure out the exact source of the stress then at least try to find ways to relax and slow down the pace of your life. Some suggestions would be meditation, yoga, Tai Chi or walking – any of these activities can help you clear your head and find those few precious moments of relaxation each day.
Watch out for the warning signs of bruxism – worn teeth, aching jaws and headaches – and don’t hesitate to visit your dentist to have your teeth checked to see if you are really grinding your teeth in your sleep. If you are grinding your teeth in the night, then you will definitely want to invest in a custom molded teeth grinding mouth guard.
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