BRUXISM: HOW TO DEAL WITH TEETH GRINDING AT NIGHT

11th March 2022 | Sleep and Customer Satisfaction
Woman Putting Mouthguard

Many of us experience or have experienced a bad habit, from biting our nails to chewing gum. However, one of these lesser-known habits is an unconscious one, such as teeth grinding or clenching of the jaw.

Stress can put a strain on our body, thoughts, feelings, and sometimes our behaviour. Eventually we might begin to experience health problems, from high blood pressure through to obesity and even teeth grinding. In fact, dentists and other oral practitioners have noticed a correlation between stress caused by the pandemic and the increase in teeth grinding; a 59% increase according to the American Dental Association.

Treating teeth grinding is therefore of the utmost importance and although it is not curable, it can be manageable.

 

What is bruxism?

The scientific term for teeth grinding and clenching is bruxism which affects 80% of the UK population on average, according to S4S Dental Laboratory. Bruxism can be linked to a genetic predisposition or psychological factors such as stress or anxiety. Our lifestyle choices may also have a huge impact, including alcohol intake, drug misuse and caffeine consumption.

Although it is more common in children, many adults suffer from bruxism without knowing or realising they are grinding their teeth. However, time does tell, and you may experience headaches, jaw pain, teeth chipping, worn-down enamel and grinding noises overheard by family members or your lucky other half – what’s worse than hearing your partner snore, the answer is teeth grinding.

 

Treating bruxism

Although you can’t always cure bruxism, there are ways to treat it. Dental care is worth investing in, so going to your local dentist may be the right option for you. Your dentist can make you a special nightguard or retainer to prevent your teeth from further damage. Over the counter options do not work for everyone and could cause more harm than good as our teeth are unique and complex therefore this could lead to more bite problems says River Edge Dental.

There are also natural remedies such as yoga, meditation or investing in a good mattress for a better night’s sleep. Taking a warm bath or listening to music to ease your stress could also aid in avoiding bruxism during the night. Find further sleeping tips here.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are other ways to treat bruxism other than wearing mouth guards. You can be taught certain muscle stretching exercises that include mindful ‘teeth placement’ and jaw exercises. There is also medicinal treatment available that helps regulate the neurotransmitters.

Dentistry on Dusk encourage other natural remedies including a ‘warm compress’, which helps relax the muscles and eating magnesium-rich foods that relax muscle tissue and help prevent spasming. Drinking turmeric infused milk helps relieve pain in the jaw, while herbal tea is a great replacement for caffeine to avoid stimulating the brain before bedtime. Calming scents such as lavender can also help prepare you for bedtime and ease any signs of stress.

 

Who is more prone to bruxism?

According to research carried out by the National Institute on Aging, it was discovered that a Type A personality is more prone to having a teeth grinding habit. Type A people tend to be competitive, neurotic, sensitive to criticism, overly aggressive or have a hurried personality.

 

Night-time Grinding vs Daytime Grinding

According to Cedars Sinai, one-third of adult’s experience bruxism in the daytime and more than one in ten do in their sleep. Those who experience teeth grinding during the day can seek to modify their behaviours through being made aware of their grinding. Leaving visual cues to remind yourself of the right way to rest your teeth, tongue and lips could help prevent damage to your teeth.

 

What’s worse: Teeth grinding or tooth clenching?

Although bruxism relates to both teeth grinding and clenching there is a difference. With clenching there is less obvious wear, as you mainly tighten the jaw muscles and place strain on both the teeth and jaw whereas teeth grinding is forceful rubbing of the teeth that could lead to tooth loss and other excessive damage.