Waking Up with Mouth Sores? Sleep Bruxism Could Be the Cause
Mouth sores are one of the most annoying things that can develop inside your mouth. An accidental bite on your inner cheek is often enough to trigger a painful spot that can take days or even weeks to heal.
What's even more frustrating is that sometimes these sores do not come from anything you do while awake. They can start while you're asleep. Sleep bruxism, or the habit of unconsciously clenching or grinding your teeth at night, could be a culprit.
In this blog, we'll go over why you might be waking up with canker sores, how sleep bruxism might be playing a part, and what you can do to stop it from happening again.
📑 Table of Contents
Why You’re Waking Up With Mouth Sores
According to the Cleveland Clinic, mouth sores, more commonly known as canker sores, are small white or yellowish lesions that can form on various spots of the mouth, including the gums, tongue, lips, and the inside of the cheeks.
They can cause a burning or stinging impression, especially when irritated by food or contact. One of the most common triggers is a minor injury to the mouth, such as accidentally biting your cheek.
Cheek biting is the tendency of repeatedly biting or pressing the inner cheeks with your teeth, as explained by Healthline. It can happen during daytime or nighttime. When it occurs at night, it is often connected to sleep bruxism, a condition where a person unconsciously grinds or clenches their teeth during sleep.
How Sleep Bruxism Leads to Cheek Biting and Canker Sores
If you've ever woken up with mouth sores or noticed you've been biting your cheek in your sleep, sleep bruxism could be behind it.
Cheek biting, research shows, is affected by more than one factor, and therefore does not always have an apparent cause. Stress has been identified as one of the common contributing factors for both cheek biting and sleep bruxism. The American Psychological Association notes that stress manifests physically through various responses such as involuntary muscle reactions. In some people, this may lead to habits like clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth during sleep.
Such continuous jaw movements may increase the chances of cheek biting, which could lead to irritation and the development of canker sores eventually. Individuals who remain under stress or face various other factors in life are likely to develop such behaviors while sleeping.
Want to learn more about nighttime bruxism? Check out this article next: Bruxism: Day vs. Night Teeth Grinding Causes and Solutions
What You Can Do to Prevent Cheek Biting from Sleep Bruxism
The good news is, this is something you can actually manage at home. Here are a few ways to help lessen cheek biting because of sleep bruxism:
Use a Custom Night Guard for Bruxism
- Protects your teeth from damage caused by grinding and clenching
- Reduces friction that can lead to scratches and irritation inside the mouth
- Acts as a protective barrier of sleep bruxism
Practice Stress Management Techniques
- Physical activities like yoga, stretching, walking, and deep breathing can help relax the body and clear your mind.
- Simple lifestyle habits such as limiting stressful media, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep may also help reduce stress levels.
- You can also support your mental well-being through journaling, reading, spending time with supportive people, and practicing positive self-talk.
Address teeth structure issues
- If you think your bite feels off, it's a brilliant idea to check in with your dentist. Sometimes, when the upper and lower jaws don't line up properly the teeth can sit closer to the inner cheeks, which makes accidental biting more likely.
- Once it's corrected, your dentist may also suggest a retainer or another type of appliance to help keep everything in place.
Protect Your Inner Cheeks with a Custom Night Guard
Managing sleep bruxism is already challenging, and it becomes even more frustrating when it leads to cheek biting during sleep. A custom night guard for grinding and clenching can help lower the risk of injury by acting as a protective layer between between your teeth and the inside of your cheeks.
Our three different types of night guards — Clear, Color, and Multi-Color Night Guards — were made specifically to be worn during night grinding while maintaining maximum comfort.
To make sure that you always have a new guard at your disposal, we offer subscriptions wherein you are sent new guards regularly. Sleep with less worry and protect your smile by getting your night guard today.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can bruxism really cause cheek biting?
Yes, teeth grinding or clenching, especially at night, can contribute to cheek biting. Sleep bruxism involves the involuntary grinding or clenching of the upper and lower teeth. When it occurs during sleep, especially in certain sleeping positions, it may increase the likelihood of accidentally biting the inner cheek.
❓ How do I know if I have sleep bruxism?
One of the ways to help identify sleep bruxism is to ask a partner or someone nearby to observe you while you sleep. However, a diagnosis is best confirmed by a dentist. If that is not possible, you can look for common signs such as morning headaches, jaw pain, and chipped or flattened teeth.
❓ Will a night guard stop cheek biting completely?
A night guard won’t completely stop cheek biting, but it can help reduce the damage. It acts as a cushion between your upper and lower teeth, helping minimize friction and lowering the chances of your teeth injuring the inner cheeks.
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