Do you get up in the early morning with a sore jaw? Does your partner hear nighttime grinding sounds from your side of the bed? You might need to learn how to stop clenching teeth during the night. This typical habit is the cause of several serious dental conditions, so it deserves your time to discover how to fix it.
Do I Have a Problem with Clenching Teeth?
Dental practitioners have a name for the grinding and clenching of teeth. It’s called bruxism. If you do it during the night, it’s called sleep bruxism. Many times, dental professionals discover the condition due to the fact that when it ends up being severe enough, it can cause damage to the enamel of your teeth.
So how can you inform if clenching teeth during the night is going to cause dental problems for you? Look for these symptoms:
- Early morning headaches
- Sore jaw or facial muscles
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Delicate or loose teeth
- Impressions or imprints on your tongue
If you see any of these symptoms, check in with your dental professional to examine the possible causes. If not resolved, bruxism can cause damage to the tooth enamel or chipped or broken teeth. You can likewise take proactive steps to avoid the nighttime grinding.
How to Stop Clenching Your Teeth
The majority of clenching and grinding is caused by emotional stress or anxiety. To stop bruxism from happening, you need to start by attending to any difficult situations in your life. Then, take these steps to unwind prior to bed:
- Release negative thoughts: Keep a notepad by your bed. If you feel stress and anxiety prior to bedtime, take 5 minutes to make a note of your sensations then put down the pen and retire for the night. This process might help calm the negative repeating thoughts that might be the cause of nighttime clenching.
- Practice mindful awareness: As you close your eyes to wander off to sleep, end up being aware of the tension in your jaw. Often simply the movement of putting your head on the pillow signals the jaw to start clenching. Knowingly loosen up and unwind the muscles in your jaw and your face. If you wake during the night, repeat the relaxation procedure.
- Ask your partner for aid: If your bed mate hears you grinding at night, ask him to provide you a push. When you wake, duplicate the mindful awareness exercise prior to you return to sleep.
- Consider a mouthguard: If you still require aid to discover how to stop clenching teeth in the evening, talk to your dentist about getting a mouthguard. You can acquire a mouthguard at many regional pharmacies or your dental professional may recommend that you have one custom made.
How to Stop Clenching My Teeth at Night
Many times lowering or getting rid of stress can minimize how to stop clenching teeth at night in adults and children.
You can take the following steps to alleviate symptoms:
- Avoid or cut down caffeine.
- Make certain you are consuming adequate water.
- Try to relax in the hours before bedtime. Develop a relaxing sleep environment and maintain a regular bedtime routine.
- Consider obtaining a prescription for muscle relaxants.
- Quit alcohol.
- Start and preserve a regular workout program.
- Stop chewing on pencils or things aside from food and prevent chewing gum.
- Unwind your muscles in the evening by holding a warm washcloth against your cheek.
- Use massage and extending techniques to relax the muscles.
For severe and consistent teeth grinding, the most typical treatment is making use of a mouth guard, which has the ability to secure a person’s teeth in the evening.
