Stop teeth grinding with these 8 solutions

Another name for grinding teeth is bruxism or tooth wear. About 20 percent of the world’s population, that is, one in five people, suffers from bruxism. Any movement with the teeth such as grinding, grinding, locking, or chewing that is not done while eating can be considered teeth grinding. It is very hard to give up, especially if you grind your teeth while sleeping. But if it is not treated on time, it can cause complications such as loss of tooth enamel and receding gums. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment are very important.

How do I know if I grind my teeth?

There are two types of teeth grinding: daytime and nighttime. Most people who grind their teeth during the day know about it. But people who do this at night are not aware of it and it is often unconscious. The most important and common symptoms of bruxism are straight and sharp edges of teeth and cracked teeth. Other symptoms include:

• Facial pain
• The uncomfortable feeling when chewing
• toothache or sensitivity
• Slight pain around the temples that sometimes extends to the bottom of the jaw.

In addition to the dentist, other specialists can also diagnose grinding teeth. A psychologist can also determine if a person has bruxism or not and if it is associated with other symptoms such as anger and stress.

How to stop teeth grinding?

The treatment of teeth grinding should be done under the supervision of a doctor, but there are other solutions that you can try and get rid of this habit.

1- Using a dental guard or night guard

The most common treatment for bruxism is a dental guard. Mouthguards cannot stop teeth from grinding, but they can prevent its consequences. These guards are usually used at night, but it is recommended for people who face it severely during the day to use a dental guard. The mouthguard is very simple to use and the mouthguard is very easy to wear. The dentist can design a special mouth guard for you according to your teeth.

2- Aligning tooth surfaces 

If the cause of your grinding teeth is uneven tooth surfaces, this method is effective. When the surfaces of the teeth are even, your temptation to grind your teeth will be less. Your dentist can determine if this procedure is right for you.

3- Botox

By limiting the movement of the jaw muscles that are responsible for teeth grinding, Botox is a great help for people, especially people with underlying diseases such as autism. Because the results of Botox usually last three to six months, Botox is a successful operation. According to a 2016 study, the long-term benefits of Botox for Bruxism are unclear due to insufficient samples. Botox is known as a low-risk procedure, but it has very few side effects, such as muscle weakness and swallowing disorders.

4- Use of muscle relaxants

Taking muscle relaxants is useful for people who grind their teeth at night. Because these substances can numb the jaw muscles while you sleep. Muscle relaxants are not suitable for daytime use due to impairment of driving. There is not enough information about the effect of this drug yet, so be sure to consult your doctor before using it.

5- Anger and stress control

Anger and stress increase teeth grinding, so managing it is very important. The following strategies are useful to control stress

• Aerobic sports such as running, cycling, high-intensity interval training
• A meditation practice that can also make you aware of Bruxism.
• See a therapist or specialist

6-Calm before sleep

For this, you can try the following ways:

• Meditation
• Having a regular bedtime
• Reduce the use of telephone, television, and internet
• Use of drinks and herbal tea, especially drinks containing chamomile
• Putting a warm compress on the jaw
• Using a white noise machine for sleep

7- Refrain from chewing anything other than food

Chewing on ice, gum, and anything other than food can cause teeth to grind over time.

8- Training and exercising the tongue and jaw

The use of jaw and tongue exercises reduces teeth locking and prevents teeth grinding. To do this, open and close your mouth while the tip of the tongue is attached to the roof of the mouth.

What is the cause of teeth grinding?

Every person in any period of life is liable to suffer from bruxism, sometimes the appearance of this habit in children calms them down and they continue this habit until adulthood. The American Academy of Medicine believes that bruxism is more common in children. There appears to be an underlying cause for bruxism, which may be emotional or neurotic. Stressful events, mental disorders, and pressures after an incident or feelings of anger can trigger Bruxism.

According to research conducted in 2018 in Switzerland, things that cause bruxism in adults include:

* Alcohol consumption

* Anger

* Smoking

* snoring

* Life full of stress

* Breathing disorder during sleep

Research has proven several other factors for Bruxism:

• Lack of nutrients
• Down syndrome
• Crossbite (jaw deformity)
• Some antidepressants
• Disruption of teeth

Grinding teeth has long-term effects

Bruxism causes severe tooth wear. Therefore, its treatment is very important. The complications of teeth grinding are:

• Abrasion of teeth
• Destruction of tooth enamel
• Receding gums
• Jaw disorders
• Chronic headaches

Bruxism is a very bad habit and it is very difficult to break it, especially for people who have bruxism at night and do not know about it. If you try home remedies to get rid of bruxism, you still need to see a dentist in Canada. They can help you to quit this habit and suggest medicine and treatments if necessary. One of these options for quitting Bruxism is to wait for the habit to go away on its own. Once tooth enamel is damaged, it is lost forever.