How to stop grinding your teeth at night
Our guide to teeth grinding
Teeth grinding – you might not even be aware you do it until you share a room with someone. However, failing to do anything about it can lead to dire consequences. Even if you’re not around people who will point out that you grind your teeth at night, there are signs that point to night grinding (or bruxism) you should be aware of.
Today, you’ll learn why people grind their teeth, why you should talk to your dentist if you notice this, and how to stop grinding your teeth at night.
Why do people grind their teeth at night?
What causes bruxism? Night grinding has four main causes.
Stress: A lot of people clench their jaw when they get stressed out. At night, they might alternate between clenching and grinding their teeth as their brain tries to work through the stressors of the day.
Nutritional deficiencies: Some nutritional deficiencies can exacerbate the body’s stress response. If you’re low on any of the B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, or magnesium, you could be at risk of experiencing more extreme physical symptoms of stress, including bruxism.
Sleep disorders: People with sleep disorders like sleep apnea also commonly grind their teeth while they attempt to sleep.
An abnormal bite: You might not always be aware of an abnormal bite during the day. At night, though, your body does its best to get into a comfortable position. If your bite is uneven because of crooked teeth, poor jaw/tooth alignment, or missing teeth, you could end up grinding your teeth to find a comfortable biting position.
Is nighttime tooth grinding a bad thing?
Do you really need to take steps to stop grinding your teeth at night? Absolutely.
Over time, bruxism can cause a lot of damage to your teeth and jaw joints.
Dental issues
Constantly grinding your teeth puts an immense amount of pressure on them. Your teeth – as strong as they are – can only take so much. Soon, your teeth will start to crack or chip from the pressure. Cracked teeth can become painful and the only way to stop a crack is to place a dental crown over the tooth. If the crack is too deep, it can cause nerve irritation and the need for root canal treatment.
Another concern is wear. Think of it this way: A drop of water on a rock doesn’t seem like it’s doing any damage. With time, though, the constant drip of the water on the rock’s surface will cause it to erode. The same can happen to your enamel. Some people experience such extreme wear that they’ve worn the tooth down to the gum line.
If this happens to you, you’re at risk of pain, infection, and further tooth/jaw misalignment. You could even lose the affected teeth altogether.
Jaw joints damage
The constant pressure of night grinding strains the muscles of the face and neck. It can also damage the jaw joints and the shock-absorbing discs in between them. The result is TMJ disorder, a painful condition that can lead to:
Arthritis of the jaw joint
Chronic headaches and migraines
Difficulty eating and speaking
Earaches
Lockjaw
How can you tell if you’re a toothgrinder?
The most obvious way to tell if you’re a teeth grinder is to ask someone. Typically, bruxism isn’t a quiet exercise. People sharing a room or bed with you can hear your teeth gnashing.
What if you sleep alone? Some other signs that you’re grinding your teeth at night include:
Waking up with sore jaw muscles
Morning headaches
Sore teeth
Worn down biting surfaces of your teeth
How can I stop grinding my teeth?
At first, it might seem like bruxism is just an annoying thing you (or your loved ones) must live with. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Our highly skilled dentists at Kowhai Dental can help you find ways to reduce or even eliminate bruxism. First, they’ll figure out the cause of your bruxism. From there, they’ll create a treatment plan that will help reduce or eliminate the issue. For instance, if your nighttime tooth grinding is stress-related, your dentist can recommend some stress-relieving remedies, such as:
Meditation
Mindfulness
Yoga
Journaling
Therapy
Similarly, if you’re dealing with nutrient deficiencies, your dentist can:
Recommend dietary changes
Refer you to a doctor or dietician for supplements
What if your bruxism is caused by a misaligned bite? Your dentist can provide a variety of treatment options to properly align your bite, including:
Jaw surgery
Bite adjustment
Do nightguards really work?
You might wonder if a nightguard is a good option. But do nightguards work? Actually, they do work quite well. The nightguard can act as a shock absorber, protecting your teeth from the pressure of grinding. It can also lessen the tension on your jaw joint and muscles, reducing jaw pain and headaches.
Can your teeth heal from grinding?
In the early stages, it’s possible that your teeth can heal. Due to the constant pressure on your teeth, you might experience some teeth sensitivity to cold or bite pressure. Getting a nightguard or investing in other remedies to stop your bruxism can prevent further damage. However, if you have wear, cracking, or chipping, the only remedy is dental restorations.
Need to speak to a dentist? Come and see us
If someone tells you that you’re grinding your teeth or you notice jaw pain, headaches, tooth sensitivity, or wear, get in touch with Kowhai Dental. The sooner you take action and learn how to stop grinding your teeth at night, the better chance you’ll have of preventing pain and the breakdown of your teeth.
To book an appointment, drop in to see us on Maunu Road, give us a call at 09 430 0707, or book online.
Would you like to know more about bruxism?
Check out our info bruxism or contact us to schedule a consultation.