If you wake up in the morning with jaw pain or sore teeth, then you are most likely suffering from bruxism. It means, you are grinding your teeth during your sleep.
Most people with this condition unconsciously begin grinding their teeth during the night, but clenching and grinding, though not usual, can occur during the awakened condition during the day also.
Teeth grinding can gradually damage your teeth and add more complications in your jaw. It is therefore important to learn to stop grinding your teeth. There are many home remedies and other alternative methods to reduce and completely avoid teeth grinding.
Symptoms of Bruxism - Teeth Grinding
A dull constant headache, tooth sensitivity to heat, cold or even brushing, wounds inside the cheeks, inflammation of jaws and audible grinding sounds during sleep are some of the common symptoms of bruxism or teeth grinding.
Causes of Bruxism
Doctors and researchers are trying to pinpoint the exact causes of bruxism. Current limited understanding suggests that it is a combination of both physiological and psychological factors that cause teeth grinding.
On the physiological side, it is understood that the conditions like abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion), Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease and stomach acid reflux are some of the known causes of teeth grinding.
From the psychological point of view, your competitive or hyperactive personality type, sleeping problems such as sleep apnea and emotions of anger, aggression, anxiety, frustration and stress and tension are more common causes of grinding teeth.
5 Different Ways to Stop Grinding Your Teeth
Once it is established that you are grinding your teeth, it becomes important for you to learn everything about different methods that can help you stop grinding your teeth. If you don't, then you will be increasing the damage to your teeth and maybe you lose them completely over a period of time.
Depending on the underlying causes of teeth grinding one or more of the following should help you to stop grinding your teeth.
1. Learn to Reduce Stress
If anxiety and stress are the main cause of your grinding the teeth, then you must learn to reduce stress. According to some estimates more than 70% cases of adult bruxism are due to stress.
Behavioral modifications, hypnosis and yoga have been found to be very useful in curbing bruxism. People find the good effect within a couple of weeks. They key is to make stress relieving activities as a daily routine of your lifestyle.
Add regular exercise to your routine. A 45 minutes of walk not only will be helpful in improving blood circulation and reducing stress but also it will improve your overall well being.
Whatever may be the underlying cause of your teeth grinding habit, you need to learn to reduce stress as it will help reduce the teeth grinding anyway.
2. Stop Drinking Caffeine Drinks and Alcohol
Both these kinds of drinks have an impact on the acid reflux and stress. So simply avoid drinking caffeinated drinks and alcohol. This means no soda, no coffee and no energy drinks.
These drinks are stimulants and make it difficult to relax. They give false feeling of temporary relief, make you addicted causing stress.
3. Add Calcium and Magnesium Rich Foods in Your Diet
Calcium and magnesium deficiency can weaken the muscles and increase tendency to grind teeth as the muscle. So have foods rich in these minerals and also take supplements if the food can't fulfil the requirements. Check with your doctor when you decide to take supplements.
4. Wear a Mouth Guard
There are many different names for this custom build guard. It is an occlusal appliance that you wear over your teeth on both jaws. The appliance also known as occlusal splint, occlusion bite guard, bite plate, night guard or mouth guard is generally used in the night time.
Wearing a night guard reduces jaw muscle pain and protect both your teeth and temporomandibular joint from further damage. You will feel significant relief within a couple of months.
5. Improve your Sleeping Habits
Sleep at the same time every day and get up in the morning at the same time daily. This may initially appear very difficult but you can train your body over a period of time to sleep on specific times.
Eat you dinner at least 3 hours before your designated sleeping time. Do some meditation before going to sleep.
If you begin to enjoy your sleep, then you will stop grinding your teeth at night.