A good night's rest is absolutely essential for one's overall health. However, if you are a nighttime teeth grinder, chances are you wake up with a stiff and aching jaw. Sometimes you may also end up with headaches, which can take away from your sleep quality. Not to mention the havoc teeth grinding (bruxism) wreaks on your teeth's health.
Teeth Grinding Symptoms
Some of the most common causes of teeth grinding are stress, anxiety, and a misaligned bite. But how do you find out whether you grind your teeth at night or not? Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of teeth grinding.
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Sore or achingly painful jaw
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Grinding noises in the middle of the night – Your partner or anyone sleeping with you may be able to hear them and point out the habit.
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Chronic headaches – If you wake up with a dull headache or experience on all through the day, you may suffer from bruxism.
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Irregular teeth wear – Tooth wear may be harder to identify by yourself. However, your dentist will be able to identify the damage to your teeth during regular dental checkups.
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Clicking or popping noises in the jaw’s joints.
How to Get Rid of Teeth Grinding
To get rid of bruxism, you need to identify the underlying cause behind the condition. Here are a few tips to help you stop naturally.
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Meditate before bed – If stress is the underlying cause for bruxism, meditating or other stress releasing exercises before bed can help. meditating or other stress releasing exercises before bed can help.
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Limit caffeine intake – High caffeine consumption throughout the day is directly linked to increased teeth grinding at night.
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Do not chew gum – If you chew gum throughout the day, you may end up subconsciously grinding your teeth at night.
If these tips don't help, you should visit a dentist to get a custom night guard to protect your teeth from damage as nighttime teeth grinding can have a negative impact on your teeth' structural integrity.
Dental Blog | Dentist Menasha, WI | Mid Valley Dental, S.C. Michael J. Wockenfus, DDS created a blog to educate the community. It is your resource for all dentistry questions. Learn and read topics in the blog here! Mid Valley Dental, SC, 903 E. Airport Road, Menasha, WI 54952 • (920) 215-4160 • midvalleydental.com • 12/12/2024 • Page Terms:dentist Menasha WI •
A good night's rest is absolutely essential for one's overall health. However, if you are a nighttime teeth grinder, chances are you wake up with a stiff and aching jaw. Sometimes you may also end up with headaches, which can take away from your sleep quality. Not to mention the havoc teeth grinding (bruxism) wreaks on your teeth's health.
