Teeth grinding is primarily caused by stress and anxiety and often occurs during sleep
New Delhi: Many people grind or clench their teeth from time to time, especially while sleeping. This practice, medically known as bruxism, usually doesn’t cause much harm, but over time it can damage teeth, cause headaches, and even cause oral complications.
Many doctors also attribute it to irregular sleep and disorders such as sleep apnea.
signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of bruxism include:
- It can be loud enough to wake your sleeping partner by grinding or clenching your teeth
- flattened teeth,
fractured a bone missing or loose wear Tooth enamel, exposing the deeper layers of the tooth- Increased tooth pain and sensitivity
- Tired or tight jaw muscles or a locked jaw that does not fully open and close
- Pain in the jaw, neck, or face pain
- ear pain
- dull headache starting at temples
- Damage caused by biting the inside of the cheek
- Sleeping disorder
Why is teeth grinding harmful?
Teeth grinding can cause several problems.
- Aesthetic changes in your appearance and facial contours
- broken teeth loose
- damage the jaw and neck muscles
- tooth loss and damage
- wear of teeth
how to stop teeth grinding ?
Health experts say there are many ways to treat bruxism and you should stop it before it causes too much harm.
Your dentist can wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth from bruxism while you sleep.
Also, if stress or anxiety is causing you to grind your teeth, take steps to reduce them. Counseling and lifestyle changes can help you become more relaxed and stress-free.
If the cause of your bruxism is a sleep disorder, get help from a medical professional or make other lifestyle changes to adjust your sleep.
Other tips to help you stop grinding your teeth include:
- Avoid or reduce foods and drinks that contain caffeine, such as cola, coffee, and chocolate.
- Avoid hard foods such as nuts, popcorn, and many hard candies
- Be careful with sticky foods that are difficult to chew, such as peanut butter
- Adjust your sleeping position or pillow for additional head and neck support
- Use warm compresses or ice packs to relieve pain
- Avoid alcohol as it tends to aggravate
- Do not chew on pencils or pens or anything that is not food.
- Avoid chewing gum as it can make your jaw muscles accustomed to clenching and make you more likely to grind your teeth.
- Train yourself to clench your teeth and not clench your teeth.
- At night, place a warm washcloth on your cheek in front of your earlobe to relax your jaw muscles.
Disclaimer: The tips and suggestions provided in the article are for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Before starting a fitness program or changing your diet always consult your doctor or nutritionist.
