How to Stop Grinding My Teeth!

One of the biggest reasons why our adult patients schedule visits with us is because they are experiencing pain in their teeth or jaw. While many issues could lead to symptoms of pain, one of the most common is bruxism: the grinding of the teeth. You might ask: how do I stop grinding my teeth?

First, you may be grinding your teeth every day without even knowing about it. For many people, grinding the teeth is a way to deal with stress subconsciously. Some people also grind their teeth while they sleep.

It’s not surprising that this excessive grinding can lead to pain and tension throughout the teeth. If not stopped, it can also damage teeth. At Samaritan Dental Arts, we want our patients to understand how serious teeth clenching can be, and some of the best ways to stop this subconscious habit.

Why We Grind Our Teeth So Much

The biggest reason why someone would grind their teeth so much is due to stress and worry. An NHS study states most people grind their teeth while they sleep, so it can be difficult to tell whether you are a tooth-grinder.

While some people with bruxism are asymptomatic, it is common for people who grind daily to feel symptoms of pain in the head, neck, jaw, and face. Bruxism is a common disorder, but it can lead to more serious such as TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder).

How to Stop Grinding Teeth – Even During Sleep

What are some of the best methods to stop grinding your teeth? How can you get rid of this bad habit if you aren’t even conscious when you’re doing it?

Thankfully, there are a few methods you can employ to try and stop yourself from grinding your teeth so much. Try out some of our dentist-approved ideas below:

1. Avoid Stimulating Foods and Drinks Before Bed

Try not to consume anything stimulating for a few hours before your bedtime. This includes drinks like coffee, alcohol, and soda, as well as foods that contain chocolate and other sugar-filled treats.

These items can severely affect your sleep since their ingredients make your body want to burst with energy. You want to start focusing on things that can help your mind and your body wind down before it’s time to go to bed. Better quality sleep can help prevent you from tossing, turning, and grinding your teeth at night.

2. Invest in a Mouth Guard

One of the best possible solutions that can have the best results involves scheduling an appointment with your trusted local dentist. During your appointment, you can be fitted for a custom mouth guard or mouth splint. This is something soft that you would wear at night to prevent your tooth-grinding habits from having such a negative effect on the rest of your body. It doesn’t get rid of the bruxism, but it provides a shield to keep the rest of you from getting hurt.

3. Get a Muscle Relaxer

In more severe cases where the bruxism has developed into some symptoms of pain for your mouth, you may need to get a muscle relaxant to relieve all of that tension building up in your jaw. You can consult with your dentist to get a medically-prescribed relaxant. There may be some other muscle-relaxing solutions that you can work with your dentist and your primary care doctor to acquire.

What Can Bruxism Lead To?

If you have already been grinding your teeth for a long time without any intervention, you may be suffering from a myriad of symptoms. Most commonly, you will feel headaches and tension in the jaw all along your mouth. Your teeth may also become sore and loosened over time. Cracks can appear in the teeth if you clench down for too long.

Other symptoms of grinding your teeth can include:

• Disruption of regular sleep patterns
• Tired jaw muscles
• Jaw locking or not being able to open and close all the way
• Damage on the inside of your cheek from biting down
• Worn down tooth enamel
• Fractured or chipped teeth
• Increased pain in the mouth
• Headaches in the temples
• Soreness in the face, neck, or jaw

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or if you notice yourself grinding your teeth during times of stress, it’s important to seek dental care right away.

Take Care of Your Teeth Before It’s Too Late!

Your grinding habits may seem harmless at first, but they can have some devastating long-term effects. It can be challenging to break this habit, especially since so much of it happens while you are asleep. But with help from our friendly experts at Samaritan Dental Arts, we can come up with a solution that will reduce the effects of grinding and help you get your daily life back on track. For more information, contact us online or give us a call at (213) 986-2933 to schedule a consultation.