Feeling Stressed? Solutions to Stop Your Teeth Grinding Habit

Teeth grinding is a common involuntary reaction to stress, anxiety, fear or anger. Even without responding to an immediate stressor, teeth grinding can still happen frequently during the night or day. This involuntary reaction to grinding the teeth is referred to as stress grinding. 

Teeth grinding is problematic because it can cause sleeping disorders and dental problems. Repetitive grinding of the teeth can lead to sleep apnea, jaw pain, tooth loss or fracture, and snoring. This leaves us to wonder how can we stop stress grinding. 

Dealing with stress grinding

Stop or reduce stress grinding your teeth with these easy steps:

Reductive or additive coronoplasty

A dental technique to reduce or stop stress grinding is termed reductive coronoplasty. This procedure is effective against misaligned teeth since the procedure involves reshaping and leveling the biting surface of your teeth. 

In some cases, an additive coronoplasty may be necessary which involves creating a space between each tooth with acrylic material to improve resistance to chewing forces and increase durability over time. 

Reduce stress

• Meditation. Meditation can relieve stress since it involves focusing on one thing and slowing down. Slowing your mind creates a sense of tranquility and deep relaxation. This peaceful method can refocus your attention away from your worries and thoughts and improves both your physical and emotional well-being. 

Keep in mind that stress grinding is an involuntary reaction to stress. Thus, the best way to avoid it is  by conditioning our minds to maintain healthy and positive thoughts. 

• Yoga. Yoga is perfect for mental and physical 
  relaxation since it relieves stress and anxiety. Additionally, yoga improves flexibility, posture, breathing and blood circulation. This form of exercise also boosts the secretion of endorphins, which is a hormone that promotes pleasure and acts as a natural pain reliever. 

By addressing and facing your worries and issues, you can find peace or resolution to your problems. This will lower your stress levels and decrease cortisol in your body as well as your stress hormones. 

Avoid hard and chewy foods

Hard and crunchy foods, such as tough meats, pizza crust and raw apples, can cause your jaw to work extremely hard; as well as chewy foods like popcorn and jerky.

It doesn’t mean that you shouldn't be able to enjoy eating your favorite foods; however, reducing stress by changing your diet and choosing a softer diet will help manage your teeth-grinding problems. Knowing what foods to eat can help you make healthier decisions. To get the right vitamins and minerals for your teeth and overall health, try to eat foods that are rich in calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the best foods for healthy teeth due to their nutritional value and benefits for oral health. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as they can trigger teeth grinding. 

Medications

Medications such as tranquilizers, anti-anxiety pills, sedatives and muscle relaxants can help you reduce your stress levels. However, these medications should only be taken when prescribed by a qualified physician or dentist. Take your prescribed meds for a limited duration only. If you believe there may be a problem, contact your doctor. These medicines are usually taken at bedtime to reduce cases of teeth grinding during sleep. When teeth grinding is severe, several treatments may be considered, including botox injections. 

Mouth guards and occlusal splints

Mouth guards and occlusal splints or “bite splints” can protect your teeth from wear and damage. If you want to stop stress grinding, occlusal splints and mouth guards are your go-to ally. Wearing occlusal splints will initiate changes in your jaw and bite positions. Similarly, mouth guards also safeguard the teeth by cushioning and preventing the teeth from grinding against each other. 

There are two types of mouth guards: (1) over-the-counter (OTC) mouth guards that are readily available in your nearest drugstore and (2) custom-made mouth guards that are designed to perfectly fit with your teeth. 

OTC mouth guards are usually made of plastic and are not that effective against severe bruxism. If you do opt to choose this type of mouth guard, make sure to pick the softest material for the best comfort. 

Custom-made mouth guards offer variety to the table. They come in different shapes and sizes which is why it is perfectly fitted specifically for your teeth and jaws. Moreover, custom-made mouth guards are often made from softer materials. 

Conclusion

There are a lot of ways to stop, prevent or reduce stress grinding. However, if you are looking for a quick and effective way to address your stress-grinding problem, custom mouth guards are your best option.

If you want instant comfort without sacrificing durability and premier protection, try ClearClub night guards now! Say goodbye to stress and grind your teeth less.