How to Stop Grinding Teeth (Bruxism)

If you excessively grind your teeth or clench your jaw subconsciously during the daytime or while asleep, you may suffer from bruxism. Bruxism can cause pain and discomfort, and may develop long term dental health issues. Depending on the severity of your condition, there are many tools and strategies to help you stop grinding your teeth.

How to Treat Daytime or Nighttime Teeth Grinding

Depending on the root cause of your bruxism, here are some common solutions to help you stop clenching your teeth:

Dental Solutions:

  • Mouth guards and night guards
  • Teeth realignment (in severe cases)
  • Sleep apnea treatment (if your underlying cause for bruxism is sleep apnea, it is important to treat that as soon as possible)

Therapy:

  • Stress management (counseling, exercise, meditation, etc.)
  • Behavior therapy (practice new jaw positions and corrective practices)
  • Jaw massages
  • Habit breaking techniques (record your teeth grinding habits and take measures to behaviorally correct each day)

Medication:

  • Muscle relaxants
  • Botox injections (in severe cases)
  • Change medicines that may be causing bruxism as a side effect (such as antidepressant medication)

Bruxism Mouth Guards

The most effective way to treat many cases of bruxism is by using specially made mouth guards. Your dentist can prescribe a custom night guard that is designed to fit your specific teeth alignment comfortably. Depending on the severity of your condition, the guard will be the proper thickness to prevent long-term damage to your teeth. Ask a dentist about how a night guard can help you prevent oral problems in the future.

Causes of Bruxism

It can be difficult to tell what the root cause of bruxism is, but there are a number of reasons you may be grinding your teeth:

  • Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders
  • Crooked teeth / Malocclusion (upper and lower teeth misalignment/crooked teeth)
  • Psychological causes:
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Stress
  • Lifestyle causes:
    • Tobacco
    • Heavy alcohol intake
    • Heavy caffeine consumption
  • Rare side effect of some psychiatric medications
  • Habitual coping mechanism
  • Symptom of Huntington’s or Parkinson’s disease

Bruxism Symptoms

If you’re not sure if you might be suffering from bruxism, look for these signs:

  • Excessive teeth grinding or clenching while awake and/or asleep
  • Worn, chipped, loose or otherwise damaged teeth
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Sore, exhausted jaw muscles, especially after waking up
  • Headaches and other face, jaw or ear pain
  • Sores on the inside of your cheeks and/or on your tongue from excessive chewing
  • Frequently locked jaw

What is TMJ/TMD?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. Your TMJs act as a hinge for your lower jaw, and are located on either side of your head, near your ears. When these joints become inflamed, TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, can result. Bruxism can cause TMD, which can result in additional pain and dental health issues beyond what bruxism alone causes. If you think you may be suffering from this condition, learn more about TMD treatment.

Bruxism Treatment in Gainesville, GA

Dr. Brad Dixon is a dentist in Gainesville, GA that has been helping patients stop teeth grinding for decades. He uses advanced dental technology and cutting edge techniques to treat bruxism and other dental/facial conditions. To learn more about getting treatment in Gainesville, contact Dr. Dixon today, or schedule an appointment to get started.

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