Take Charge of Stress Management to Reduce Your Teeth Grinding Habit

Those who grind their teeth are often unaware of the fact. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, usually happens while asleep. It can also occur during the day when the sufferer is stressed or subconsciously grinding or clenching their teeth while concentrating.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is the act of grinding, clenching or gnashing one’s teeth. Occasional bruxism is virtually harmless, but continued grinding can lead to serious issues like worn teeth, jaw issues and nerve damage.

Treating a tooth grinding habit early is crucial to preserving good oral health.

Symptoms of teeth grinding

Since this condition occurs mainly during sleep, many are unaware that they grind their teeth. Some people may not know until their significant other hears the loud grinding while the sufferer sleeps.

Your dentist will be able to examine your teeth to look for the following telltale signs of bruxism:

• Jaw tenderness
• Dull, constant headache throughout the day
• Excessive wear on teeth
• Fractured teeth
• Loose teeth

Bruxism can also cause TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction), a jaw disorder that causes pain and affects the movement of the jaw. If left untreated, teeth grinding can cause a myriad of serious oral health issues such as gum recession and tooth loss.

Causes of teeth grinding

Stress, anxiety and even a misaligned bite can all cause bruxism. Although there are many causes for this condition, the most common is stress.

Other causes include:

• Smoking
• Consumption of alcohol
• Fatigue
• High caffeine intake
• Sleep apnea
• Snoring

It may help to observe and record your jaw clenching and teeth grinding habits during the day. This way, when you go in to see your dentist you will have a detailed report of any apparent patterns or triggers. During the day, teeth grinding and clenching commonly happens when one is concentrating or during a stressful situation.

Manage your stress to kick the habit

There are many tactics to reduce stress during the day that can carry into minimizing teeth grinding at night.

Exercise

Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise each day may help to reduce your teeth grinding habit. The right amount of exercise is proven to decrease stress levels.

Diet

Try eating foods that are high in calcium, potassium and vitamin C to get your fair share of teeth-friendly vitamins and minerals. Your oral health starts with nutrition, so make sure to pay close attention to your diet. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, as these can trigger teeth grinding in some.

Meditation

Stress relief can come in many forms. Learning how to meditate when experiencing periods of high stress is a valuable tool to help stop your bruxism in its tracks.

Counseling

Talk to someone about problems that are bothering you. Work, relationships and even seasonal stressors like the holidays can contribute to a stressful lifestyle. Sometimes all it takes to stop grinding your teeth is talking about any issues concerning you.

The bottom line

Keep in mind that bruxism can also be caused by sleep disorders. If this is the case, you will need to treat the root condition to stop grinding your teeth.

Consciously relaxing your jaw throughout the day will help to kick the habit of clenching. When your jaw is relaxed, your top and bottom teeth should not be touching and your lips should be barely together or slightly apart.

For nocturnal bruxism, your dentist will likely recommend a mouthguard to minimize contact. Talk to your dentist today to find out how to manage your stress and reduce your teeth grinding habit.

Request an appointment here: https://www.oaktreefamilydental.com or call Oak Tree Dental at (703) 763-5239 for an appointment in our McLean office.