919-682-5327 Many people grind their teeth from time to time. If teeth grinding, which is also called bruxism, only occurs occasionally, it usually does not harm the teeth. However, regular bruxism can damage the teeth and cause other oral health issues. Teeth grinding and clenching often occurs during sleep and can be caused by a misaligned bite, crooked or missing teeth, or a sleep disorder. Bruxism can also be caused by stress. Frequent teeth grinding can cause fractured, loosened, or lost teeth. Bruxism can also cause excessive wear on the teeth.
As bruxism often occurs during sleep, most people do not know that they grind their teeth. If you wake with a dull headache or a sore jaw, you may be grinding your teeth at night.
Follow these tips to help prevent teeth grinding:
• Avoid or reduce ingesting foods and drinks that contain caffeine, like coffee, chocolate, and soda.
• Avoid alcohol ingestion.
• Do not chew on pencils, pens, and other non-food objects. Avoid gum as well, as it trains you to clench your teeth.
• If you notice yourself grinding or clenching your teeth during the day, place the tip of your tongue between your teeth. This trains your jaw muscles to relax.
• Hold a warm washcloth against your cheek in front of the earlobe to relax your jaw muscles at night.
Talk to our dentist today if you think that you may be grinding or clenching your teeth. We can help you find a solution that will suit your needs.