One habit that may affect your dental health is grinding or clenching your teeth. Bruxism commonly referred to, as teeth grinding, is a rhythmic grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaws that may develop at any age.
Most people grind their teeth unconsciously, when they are asleep. Others experience bruxism when feeling stressed or performing daily tasks. By identifying its real cause, teeth grinding can be easily prevented and treated.
Warning Signs and Risk Factors for Teeth Grinding
Clenching your teeth puts pressure on the muscles and tissues of your mouth as well as the jaw. If you wake up with a painful jaw or an earache, you might have sleep bruxism. Here are the following warning signs to look out for:
- Loud grinding
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Sore and painful jaw
- Earache
- Headache
- Chronic facial pain
- Teeth become chipped, flattened or worn down
If you frequently encounter one or more of these problems, consult your dental expert about the treatment of bruxism.
In addition to identifying the warnings signs of teeth grinding, it is also crucial to recognise the risk factors associated with this condition so you will know other situations that can trigger its development. The risk factors include:
- Stress
- Age, especially people under age 40
- Aggressive or competitive personality
- Obstructive Sleep Apnoea or OSA
- Stimulating substances such as found in alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and illegal drugs
Remedies for Teeth Grinding
The treatment for teeth grinding depends on the main cause. It may be caused by a sleep disorder, stress and anxiety or lifestyle factors. Your dentist can help identify the source and develop a treatment plan that suits your case by performing a comprehensive examination. On the other hand, there are simple methods you can try at home to minimise the occurrence of teeth grinding.
Try to relieve stress by doing relaxing techniques such as meditation, deep breathing or any activities that help you to feel calm and stress-free. Reduce consumption of beverages that contain alcohol and caffeine. If you feel like clenching your teeth, try to control it by holding your teeth apart. Do some simple jaw massages during the day so you can reduce the probability of teeth grinding at night. You can find many useful video tutorials on the Internet.
Custom Mouth guard: A Teeth Grinding Solution at Smiles Nambour
One of the best solutions for teeth grinding is using a custom-made mouth guard from your dentist in Sunshine Coast here at Smiles Nambour. Custom mouth guards safeguard your teeth from grinding and offers a comfortable fit to help you sleep better while wearing it. Compared to over-the-counter mouth guards that don’t fit well, custom mouth guards are more effective for sufferers of bruxism, as it will reduce pain on the muscle jaw and protect both your temporomandibular joint and your teeth. Custom mouth guards are considered the treatment of choice for most bruxism patients.
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