Most people probably grind and clench their teeth from time to time. Occasional teeth grinding, medically called bruxism, does not usually cause harm, but when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise.
Few persons do it while asleep, but a lot of people subconsciously do it during the day as well. Here are few tips on how to stop this bad habit:
Identify Your Trigger
There is always something causing you to grind your teeth. Understanding such thing will go a long way in your conscious effort to stop the habit.
Make A Conscious Effort Not To Do It During The Day
It’s difficult not to clench your teeth when you’re sleeping because you don’t really know what you’re doing when you’re asleep. You can control what you do when you’re awake though. If you notice yourself clenching or grinding your teeth, stick your tongue between them.
Don’t Chew On Stuff
This is another thing I’ve realised. People who chew “everything” tend to grind their teeth. Teeth-clenchers and grinders are also chewers, but apparently they do it without noticing.
Manage Your Stress
Stress is the main cause of bruxism. It could be stress about an upcoming test, your crush not texting you back or deciding where to go to college. You might be stressing about the smallest thing and taking it out on your teeth. It can be difficult to treat an action that you’re not aware of doing so treating the cause is your best bet. Focus on stress management. Do some meditation and deep breathing exercises before bed to calm yourself and see if that helps.
Put A Washcloth On Your Face
Experts recommend relaxing your jaw muscles before you go to sleep by holding a warm washcloth on your face. If your muscles are relaxed, you minimise the chances of clenching.
