Bruxism, also referred to teeth grinding, occurs when the upper jaw rubs both sets of teeth together. Teeth grinding will cause damage to the teeth and other oral health problems.
An estimated 40 percent of people will suffer from bruxism at one point in their lives. Teeth grinding and clenching are para-functional activities that are poorly understood. These two problems are collectively referred to as bruxism and are associated with symptoms such as headache, tooth wear, jaw disorders and hypertrophy of mastication muscles. The injection of the masticatory muscles with botulinum toxin and occlusal therapy has been ways of treating bruxism.
Research has shown a direct correlation between stress and grinding your teeth. Bruxism most often results in restless sleep. But over time, bruxism can lead to facial and jaw pain, tooth aches and sensitivity, headaches, damage from chewing the inside of your cheek and worn-down or broken teeth. One of the primary causes of teeth grinding is as a response to stress. The good news? If you can manage your stress levels, you may be able to nip bruxism in the bud.
Ways to Avoid Stress-related Teeth Grinding
It’s nearly impossible to eliminate all the stressors in our busy, hectic lives. But there are ways to manage stress and sleep routines to decrease the chances of grinding away at your teeth while sleeping. If you grind your teeth, consider the following –
- Power down all your devices. This means TV, cellphone, tablets, and streaming your favourite shows. Consider instead turning into soothing music or a wave or white noise machine; whatever soothes and calms your mind may also help prevent grinding your teeth.
- Try a warm bath before bed. A soothing warm bath can help you relax tense muscles and relieve stress. Try adding lavender or eucalyptus to your bath for some well-deserved aromatherapy.
- Create a cave. Many sleepless nights are triggered by blinking lights on your DVR or the light emitted from a computer screen. Try working with natural light – turn off all manmade lights and work with natural light which will help you regulate your sleep cycles for a better night’s sleep.
- Clear your nasal passages. A warm cup of decaffeinated tea or that warm bath mentioned earlier can help clear your nasal passages, making it easier to breathe through you nose, helping you sleep better.
If these home remedies are unsuccessful at relieving the stress that causes bruxism, it may be time to consult with your dentist. Your dentist can create a quality mouth guard to prevent grinding at night. If your teeth are out of alignment, he may recommend orthodontic procedures to align your teeth. If your grinding is a result of missing or broken teeth, your dentist may recommend implants to restore missing or damaged teeth.
If you are looking for bruxism treatment in Delhi, then your search ends at Sterling Dental Clinic, which is a modern dental clinic offering world class dental services in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi. With an advanced, state of the art infrastructure and a professional staff, we are the best dental clinic in Delhi. Book your appointment now!