Friday, December 9, 2016

Why You Grind Your Teeth At Night—and How to Stop

 If you’re waking up with a dull headache, your teeth might be to blame
Feeling stressed can start in your mind, but the effects of it can quickly travel a few inches south to your jaw.
Since we tend to hold tension in our jaw and neck, continual anxiety can cause us to grind our teeth when we sleep. Dentists call this condition bruxism, and it can range from mildly annoying to seriously damaging. It's actually pretty common: 10 to 20 percent of adults deal with it, says Randy N. Downing D.D.S. So how do you know if you’re guilty of grinding? If you find yourself waking up with a dull Headache or an especially tense jaw, bruxism is probably to blame. The most common cause is stress, but bruxism can also be a side effect of a misaligned jaw or even some medications.
The issue with constant grinding is that it can really mess with your tooth enamel, making your teeth more sensitive.
The night grind can also cause or worsen temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a painful chronic inflammation of the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
TMJ is not necessarily a cause of grinding, though.
“People who have chronic TMJ pain are more likely to grind their teeth,” says Dr.Downing. “However, it’s a chicken and egg argument. We don’t know if TMJ pain causes one to grind their teeth or vice versa.”
So how can you avoid the painful effects? Aside from working on reducing your stress, avoid caffeine and alcohol, as they tend to worsen the jaw tension.
You can also have your dentist fit you with a mouth guard to keep your jaw relaxed and prevent your teeth from grinding at night.
Even though getting one from your dentist might cost you a little more money than the ones you find at the drugstore (they can be up to a few hundred dollars), it’s worth it.
Ill-fitting night guards often don’t cover the back molars, and since teeth tend to move if something isn’t stopping them, you could end up with a misaligned bite.

Dentists call this condition bruxism, and it can range from mildly annoying to seriously damaging.

5 comments:

  1. It’s really such nice information to get advantage from.
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  2. To avoid or prevent bruxism there are several steps to follow:

    Mouthguards : The dentist may indicate the use of mouthguards (image above) to keep the teeth separated, especially at night. These can be hard acrylic or soft materials like silicone. Some take only the upper teeth, others the lower teeth and others only the teeth.

    Stress management : many people grind their teeth in situations of stress. This can be tried to control or reduce with the help of a therapist, physical exercise, meditation techniques or yoga. It may also help to listen to soft music or take a warm bath before bedtime.

    Good sleep habits : it is important to sleep 8 hours a day, Orange County Root Canal specialist suggest to avoid the consumption of exciting substances such as coffee and alcohol near bedtime.

    Postural therapy : the dentist o can indicate exercises to change the position of the mouth and jaw. There are also alternative therapies that can help achieve muscle control.

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  3. Teeth grinding is one of the worst things. Many people are victims of this problem. It's important to know that good fitness is most important for a healthy life. If your oral health is good then your overall health will also good. You can't achieve good fitness without good oral health. Avoid alcohol because it's also a reason for teeth grinding. If you can't stop this problem then you should see a dentist.

    You should understand that your oral health and overall health are interdependent. Bad oral health damages overall health. There are many ways to achieve good oral health. Like as, brushing your teeth, dental flossing, avoid caffeine and alcohol and avoid acidic foods. Your article is most interesting and informative. It's very helpful for those who are suffering from teeth grinding problem. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Dr. Nik is a passionate about holistic dentistry. Using natural remedies and traditional dental procedures we can help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Cosmetic dentistry in Sherman Oaks

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