The Daily Grind: Managing Teeth Grinding

Bruxism, often known as teeth grinding, is a very common concern that can lead to a number of dental and general health issues. This happens when you clench or grind your teeth when awake or asleep, and often, unknowingly. Headaches, jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, and even tooth and gum damage can be brought on by teeth grinding. Thankfully, there are a number of strategies you can adopt to control teeth grinding and safeguard your oral health.

Finding the causes of teeth grinding is the first step in controlling it. Drugs, sleep difficulties, stress and anxiety are typical bruxism triggers. You can take action to lessen or get rid of these triggers by figuring out what they are. Talk to your doctor about changing your medication or treating any underlying sleep disorders, or try stress-reduction methods like yoga, deep breathing or meditation.

A mouthguard is a practical solution to safeguard your teeth from further wear caused by teeth grinding. All patients who proceed with either orthodontic or smile makeovers in our clinic are given one at the end of their treatment. Mouthguards can be worn during the day or while you sleep and are manufactured specifically to fit your teeth. They have a cuffing effect that lessens the harm that teeth and jaw grinding creates. For the greatest benefit, wear your mouthguard every night.

Teeth grinding often occurs during sleep, so practicing good sleep hygiene can help reduce the frequency and intensity of grinding. Establish a regular sleep schedule and stick to it, avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and create a relaxing sleep environment. You can also try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation to help you fall asleep more easily. Exercising regularly earlier in the morning or day has shown to benefit sleep. 

Strengthening your jaw muscles can help reduce the intensity of teeth grinding. Try simple exercises such as opening and closing your mouth, moving your jaw side to side, and pushing your lower jaw forward while keeping your teeth apart. These exercises can help relax your jaw muscles and reduce tension in your jaw.

Stimulants such as caffeine and tobacco can increase the likelihood of teeth grinding. If you are a regular coffee or tobacco user, try reducing your intake or eliminating it altogether. This is easier said than done but the first step is starting. You may find that your bruxism improves as a result.

In some cases, teeth grinding can be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition such as sleep apnea or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). If you have persistent bruxism despite trying the above techniques, or if you experience other symptoms such as snoring or jaw pain, it is important to seek professional help. We can evaluate your condition and recommend appropriate treatment.

A short-term solution is looking into injectables. The muscles that cause teeth grinding can be treated with an injection of muscle relaxants. Grinding can be lessened or stopped when muscle relaxants are injected into these muscles because it interferes with the nerve signals that direct the muscles to contract. The effects of injections for teeth grinding normally last for a few months before they completely disappear. This means that the procedure might need to be repeated on occasion which can be a costly expense.

Muscle relaxants can be a good teeth grinding treatment, but it's not a cure. To get long-lasting relief from the grinding, it's critical to treat its underlying causes, which may include stress, worry, or sleep problems. The best method for managing teeth grinding could involve a combination of muscle relaxant injections and other management strategies, like using a mouthguard, maintaining good sleep hygiene, and getting professional assistance if necessary.