Have you found yourself grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws for no reason? This is a common involuntary practice that adults develop over time. In this blog, family dentists in Burlington, Ontario, have aimed to answer various questions regarding teeth grinding.
What are the reasons for teeth grinding?
Teeth grinding is not harmful to your overall health, but if you do it for a prolonged period, it will affect the enamel and also inflict painful jaws. Here is a list of reasons behind teeth grinding. Knowing the reasons will help to take care of it.
- Set of an even or cricket teeth
- Stress or anxiety
- Sleep-related problems like sleep apnea
- Clinical depression
- Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease
Some Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
As discussed earlier, there are no harmful effects of teeth grinding. However, here are a few symptoms that will help you understand that you might be grinding your teeth in the middle of the night without knowing it.
- Constant headache
- Wearing of the teeth
- Sore jaws
What is the Treatment for Teeth Grinding?
If you are grinding your teeth too much, ask an orthodontist to make a shield that you can wear at night. This shield will help prevent your teeth from being damaged by the constant grinding.
If the teeth grinding is because of stress, it is suggested that you consult a dentist and ask them about how to relax if you find yourself grinding your teeth. It is also suggested to visit a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist will help you to combat stress and anxiety.
You can also perform various stress management strategies that you can find on YouTube. Some stretch management exercises and strategies are JRF, SRF, etc.
As stress is regarded as the major reason behind teeth grinding, here are some things that you can do to combat stress.
- Meditate every day in the morning to reduce stress.
- Do the exercise that is mentioned.
- Avoid the consumption of alcohol as it increases the stress level.
- Be conscious and check yourself if you are grinding your teeth at any time of the day.
- Do not chew pens, pencils, or your nails.
Conclusion
Though it is not harmful, if you are here reading this blog, you must be irritated with the constant clenching of jaws and grinding of teeth. Consult a dentist and discuss this problem to get solutions.