4 Ways to Prevent Teeth Grinding

1. Reduce Your Stress Level

Many people are unaware that they clench their jaw or grind their teeth when they sleep. It's not a problem for most of us, but for people who have temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) it can lead to a lot of pain. TMJ is a disorder in which the jaw joint does not work properly due to a misalignment of the jaw and teeth. It can also result from a progressive disease such as osteoarthritis. People who have TMJ can't open their mouths very widely without feeling pain and hearing clicking and popping noises within the joint. When your body is tense or you have a lot on your mind, you can often feel yourself gritting your teeth or holding your jaw in a very tense position. Reducing your stress level, especially before bedtime, can help prevent night-time teeth grinding, called bruxism. For the physical issues, take a warm bath or listen to some soothing music to relax your body. Try not to drink caffeinated drinks like soda, tea or coffee in the evenings, because caffeine can prevent relaxation and keep you awake at night. If you have emotional issues that you're having difficulties dealing with, talk to your spouse, a good friend or a counselor. Sometimes getting problems out into the open can allow you to unwind.

2. Wear a Mouth Guard

Wearing a mouth guard at night can prevent you from grinding your teeth because it prevents your top and bottom teeth from touching each other. The least expensive type of mouth guard is available at most sporting goods stores. You boil the guard to make it pliable and bite down on it to make an impression of your teeth while the mouth guard is warm. If you need a more specialized dental appliance, your dentist or orthodontist can take impressions of your mouth and create a mouth guard that will hold your jaw in the correct position and cut back on grinding and clenching.

3. Examine Mouth Postures in a Mirror

If you are aware of your teeth grinding, you may be able to prevent further occurrences by looking in a mirror at how you hold your jaw and teeth. Practice resting your tongue on the roof of your mouth, keeping your teeth slightly apart while your lips are closed. This position makes it hard to clench your jaw or grind your teeth. By learning new mouth postures, you may be able to prevent grinding.

4. Take a Muscle Relaxant

Speak to your doctor about taking a muscle relaxant if you're having a hard time relaxing and can't seem to stop grinding your teeth. While prescription drugs are not very effective in terms of preventing the grinding action, they may give your body the help it needs so that you can relax your jaw and sleep peacefully without pain.