Grinding teeth, also known as Bruxism, can raise serious health concerns if not addressed in time. Any qualified dentist will advise a patient suffering from Bruxism not to take the matter lightly as teeth grinding can lead to severe dental deformities. Tired jaw muscle, misshaped teeth, or misaligned teeth are often the result of straight teeth grinding. But what is odd is that many people fail to recognize that they suffer from Bruxism; only when others point out their weird teeth grinding obsession do they realize the problem at hand. Continue reading this article to find out the solution to the problem by minimizing the habit and gradually eliminating the same.
Explore The Root of Trouble: One of the principal causes behind teeth grinding is excess stress and anxiety. People often avoid or push unwanted thoughts at the back of their minds, expecting them to disappear. But unresolved issues have a habit of coming back at unusual times. When someone is under excess stress, he may unconsciously start grinding teeth. That is why it is vital to notice when one starts clenching. Once you see a pattern of clenching and grinding during the day, take a mental note of the situation you are in to understand the cause of the stress.
- Meditation and mindfulness exercises help reduce daily stress and hypertension. Maintain a relaxed jaw position and gently massage the lower jaw when you feel the urge to grind your teeth.
- Avoid procrastination and delay of pending work, as it only adds to the daily stress. If you find yourself in an overwhelming situation with work or personal life, be sure to break the task into doable chunks and deal with one issue at a time.
Seek Medical Help: If you experience teeth grinding to take over your life, it is time to seek professional help. Talk to your dentist about a mouth guard suited for this situation. The mouth guard stops teeth grinding, stopping further dental damage. Many sportspersons also use an athletic mouth guard to prevent damage while playing. A certified dentist will tell you the difference between sports mouth guards and night mouthguards. One can also have a custom-made mouthguard fitted for specific mouth structures to give them better comfort. If you want something readily available, you can always order a one-size-fits-all night mouthguard, and you are good to go.
Trick Your Body: Teeth grinding is very much a physical problem; it is the physical manifestation of anxiety and excess tension. Therefore, the goal should be to trick the body into thinking that you are without stress. Exercising is a great way to relieve oneself of pent-up stress and anxiety. If you only experience teeth grinding during the night, a bit of relaxation of mind may help before going to bed. Don’t bring your office work into the home, and stay up late doing work that may stress you out. Use mellow lighting in the house to trick your brain into thinking it’s bedtime before going to bed. Avoid browsing through social media applications late at night as it only adds to the general problem.