How To Stop Clenching Teeth (Aid For A Good Night Sleep)

Do you have sleepless nights because someone is clenching teeth? You may not even know that you clench your teeth as well. There are ways to treat jaw clenching. Check it out!

Teeth Clenching

Generally speaking, some people do an activity that holds the teeth together, and jaw muscles tighten. Experts call this activity as the clenching or grinding. They also refer to it as bruxism. People can do teeth grinding unconsciously, either while they are awake or during their sleep.

During daytime that they are awake, they do clenching out of anger or stress, unaware of it completely. This is referred to as awake bruxism. Relatives or peers close to the person with this bruxism can immediately notify them. They will help the person be aware of it and gradually stop or reduce grinding.

It depends on the grinding condition. Occasionally, some patients need to undergo therapy to work out their grinding of teeth.

Another condition is clenching while asleep. In other words, it is referred to as sleep bruxism. Sleep bruxism is an activity beyond the person’s conscious control. The person might repeat this condition at night several times. This condition is left unnoticed if there’s nobody beside during teeth grinding.

Based on researches, teeth clenching normally happens while at sleep. It even occurs to children after their baby teeth or adult teeth appears initially. However, children’s teeth clenching usually stop once their adult teeth have reached their full formation.

Reasons for teeth clenching

Every individual has different factors why bruxism occurs. It can be from the person’s physical, psychological or genetic factors. Teeth clenching occurs if a person experiences stress or anxiety. It can also be out of tension or even concentration.

As for the sleep bruxism, it occurs relatively because of hyperactivity, sleep disorder or acid reflux. It can also be the effects of medicines taken to treat depression. Additionally, the person might also acquire clenching due to vices affecting health condition, such as smoking, alcohol intake and illicit drugs. The person who drinks too much coffee may also experience grinding while asleep.

Awake or sleep bruxism can also result from eating disorders. People with missing or crooked teeth tend to do teeth grinding as well. This can lead to irritation and continuously affects gum and teeth conditions.

Another cause is undergoing dental work that has changed the jaw or teeth positions. This might have caused trauma to your facial condition. Lifestyle activities out of emotional or developmental issues can also cause grinding of teeth. Based on research, too much stress is the reason why the majority is grinding teeth.

Adjustments or improvements to these causes shall be done or else, prolonged side-effects will be encountered. Some of these effects are mentioned in the next paragraph.

Effects of teeth clenching

From teeth grinding done continuously, an individual may acquire the following: First, a tooth fracture. Second, headache (can be minor or severe). Third, jaw problems; or worse, temporomandibular disorders (TMD Syndrome) and temporomandibular joints (TMJ Syndrome).

TMD syndrome is a disorder occurring to the jaw muscles, TMJ, and nerves. This will result in chronic facial pain. On the other hand, TMJ syndrome occurs if there is an injury or inflammation at the temporomandibular joints. These joints connect the jawbone and the skull.

Other than that, the person with bruxism experiences facial pain. It also leads to sleepless nights, either for the person with bruxism or their partner. Earache can also occur during this period. There can also be the appearance of enlarged jaw muscles.

The grinding of teeth often makes sounds also that can become bothersome to family members, friends or workmates. This can lead to irritation towards the person clenching teeth. It may also result in prolonged teeth sensitivity.

You may encounter numerous problems due to bruxism if you don’t work it out immediately.

How to aid teeth clenching

There is no exact cure for bruxism occurring, whether awake or asleep. The doctors or dentists only provide options to relieve the effects of clenching. The attending medical professionals can give suggestions on how to deal with bruxism, and it may decrease gradually as time passes by.

These are the options to lessen teeth clenching:

1. Get enough sleep at night.
2. Do regular exercise routines, especially muscle-relaxation exercises.
3. Usage of splints or mouth guards.
4. Re-alignment of the jaw caused by a crooked or missing tooth.
5. Avoid foods and drinks with a high content of caffeine, especially before sleeping.
6. Relax your jaw muscles using a warm cloth or heating pad.
7. Undergo therapy. Discuss this with your dentist or doctor.
8. Always train yourself not to clench your teeth.
9. Reduce stress.
10. Observe good eating habits.

Prevention of teeth clenching depends on your condition. They can do lighter options if they have minor bruxism. However, if they have a major condition, they might consider other deeper approaches to stop bruxism.

A medical professional can only determine the approaches suitable to you once you have yourself checked. They will recommend either home remedies or medications only after conducting a proper evaluation of your teeth clenching.

It would be best for you to address the grinding issue before it turns out to a condition that can no longer be worked out. Set an appointment now to your recommended physician or dentist.

Remember!

Do not let stress get you out of your happy routines. There are many activities that you can do as a remedy to your stress. Few of them are even present at your home. You can inhale, then exhale several times to release tension, then think of ways how to get out of stress. You can also learn new habits to divert your attention.

Live a stress-free life, and stay happy as much as you can!