Dental patients seek advice from their dentist for a variety of issues including teeth grinding. Some patients who grind their teeth have TMJ, which causes tightening of the jaw muscles and pain when the patient chews.
TMJ isn’t the only cause of teeth grinding, and it is important for the dentist to determine what is causing the habit. Dental patients who want to learn about grinding their teeth can review the 4 ways to break the habit.
| Read also: How to Spot TMJ Disorders Before It’s too Late |
1. Use a Night Guard
Using a night guard prevents the teeth from grinding together and keeps them separated. The dentist prescribes the night guard for patients who are grinding their teeth and damaging their teeth while they sleep.
It molds to the teeth and protects the teeth more proactively. The guard prevents the stress of clinching the jaws, breaking teeth, and creates a cushion between the top and bottom row of teeth.
Patients who want to get a night guard for grinding their teeth can contact the Best Dentists now.
2. Start an Exercise Program
Starting an exercise program helps individuals increase energy levels and get the body back into shape. The right exercise helps the individual achieve their ideal weight and become healthier.
It also relieves stress and helps the individual gain better control over their stress levels. Higher stress levels cause individuals to grind their teeth while they sleep.
When they are stressed, there is a higher risk of having bad dreams and grinding the teeth more. Exercising every day helps the individual eliminate stress and rest better at night.
Reviewing exercise plans helps individuals determine what plans are best for them.
3. Avoid Caffeine Before Bedtime
Avoiding caffeine before bedtime helps the individual become tired before bedtime without the jitteriness.
Caffeine is a stimulant, and it makes it hard to just relax and go to sleep at night. Sodas, coffee, and tea have high amounts of caffeine and are created to keep consumers awake.
A high dose of caffeine before bedtime might increase the frequency of teeth grinding and stressful nights.
Doctors recommend avoiding caffeinated beverages for at least two hours before bedtime. It is fine to drink decaffeinated teas if the products help with sleep.
4. Stop Chewing on Anything That isn’t Food
Stop chewing on anything that isn’t food! Dental patients that have issues with teeth grinding have nervous habits that increase teeth grinding. They chew on pens, pencils, and straws. Check out a good post on “Oral Health and Hygiene“.
To get out of the habit of grinding the teeth, it is vital for the individual to stop other habits that affect the teeth negatively. The teeth are meant to chew foods that nourish the body.
Patients who chew on hard items that aren’t food just increase the stress on their teeth and jaws. The jaw muscles become strained, and additional teeth damage might occur because of the harder substances and the strain on the jaw muscles.
Many dental patients grind their teeth because of stress and tightened jaw muscles. The reason for teeth grinding determines what the patient needs to do to stop tooth damage and protect their teeth.
A night guard is a great choice for protecting the teeth and lowering the risk of tooth loss. Exercise also helps the individual lower their stress levels and rest better at night.
Learning more about ways to stop grinding the teeth helps patients kick the habit for good.
About The Author:
Stacey Smith is a freelance health writer. She is passionate to write about women’s health, dental health, diabetes, endocrinology and nutrition and provides in-depth features on the latest in health news for medical clinics and health magazines.
