Grinding your teeth at night (also called “bruxism”), as well as clenching your jaw during the day, can do real damage to your teeth. It can wear down the protective enamel layer on your teeth, as well as make any existing dental issues much worse. You may be engaging in daily habits that can increase your risk of teeth grinding. Here are a few things to avoid in order to lessen your chances of developing bruxism.
- Try to stay away from certain substances that have been shown to make bruxism worse. These include alcohol, tobacco and caffeine.
- Alleviate stress as much as possible throughout the course of each day. Tension and anxiety often cause people to clench their jaws during the day and grind their teeth at night. Choose healthy stress-relievers, such as exercise, deep breathing, or yoga, for example.
- Try relaxing your jaw during the day by opening it wide and closing it. If you feel tightness in the jaw, try apply a warm, damp cloth on your cheeks to relax the jaw muscles.
- Be aware of stress-related activities you engage in during the day. Chewing on the end of a pen while you work, for example, is one of many indications that you might be feeling stressed out. Pen chewing, among other habits – many of which we may not even be aware of – can cause you to clench your jaw even tighter than you normally would.
- The position that you sleep in at night can make a difference. The best way to keep your jaw relaxed is to sleep on your back. Sleeping either on your side or on your stomach can make bruxism worse.
- Engage in relaxing rituals before going to bed. A warm bath, reading a book or meditating are all good options. Avoid using electronic devices for a few hours before bed. Developing a healthy, relaxing nighttime routine will help you sleep more soundly and will lessen the chances of teeth grinding overnight.
Bruxism causes a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, such as morning headaches and pain in and around the jaw area. But one of the most negative consequences of grinding your teeth at night is the damage it can do to your teeth. If you suffer from bruxism, and changing these daily habits doesn’t alleviate the condition, talk to your dentist. He or she can recommend any one of a variety of treatments that can help to resolve the issue and protect your teeth.
