Grinding your teeth at night or during the daytime? If you’ve ever woken up with a sore jaw or headache, it’s possible that you’re grinding your teeth together whilst sleeping. Occasional bruxism, as teeth grinding is referred to medically, is fairly normal and perhaps nothing to really worry about. Regular bruxism, however, can lead to damaged teeth, loss of hearing, disfiguration, and other oral problems if left unchecked.

If you’re feeling the symptoms of teeth grinding or have woken up your significant other in the middle of the night, it’s best that you visit your dentist to provide you with a professional medical opinion. Although some of the solutions can be done without visiting your dentist, any sign of regular bruxism is best treated with a bruxism night guard (also called a dental splint).

Night Guard (Dental Splint)

Nightguards are small splints that fit over your top teeth whilst sleeping and reduce tooth decay and oral damage that result from untreated bruxism. These devices are custom-fitted in a bespoke manner by your dentist and are the best way to reduce and treat regular and occasional bruxism. Pure Dentistry in Queensland can help you diagnose your bruxism and recommend a night guard for your personalised needs.

They require regular rinsing and cleaning in order to prevent bacterial growth, but it isn’t a very big chore once it becomes routine. Furthermore and more importantly, wearing a nightguard regularly will greatly improve your oral health and prevent your bruxism from exacerbating.

Change Your Diet

Reduce your alcohol and coffee consumption in the evening to help reduce nighttime grinding. Although you don’t have to cut your intake completely, reducing these two substances in the evening is an effective way to relax your jaw and thereby reduce the chances of you grinding them whilst sleeping.

In terms of food, try to avoid foods that require extensive chewing. Red meat, chewing gum, and other chewy foods should all be avoided so that your jaw can ease up and relax more. Moreover, avoid chewing on non-food items as well, such as pencils.

Adopt a Healthier Lifestyle

Stress is an important contributor to many cases of bruxism, so try to relieve stress as much as possible. This includes getting plenty of exercises to improve wellbeing. Although there are benefits to morning and evening exercise, any exercise is still better than none. Additionally, spend a little time massaging your jaw muscles.

Be sure to take a warm bath or shower before bedtime, and apply a warm, moist cloth to your jaw as well. These activities help to ease your jaw muscles and may reduce the chances of you grinding your teeth at night.

Consult a Medical Professional

While the above strategies can work just fine for you personally, it’s always best that you consult with a dentist if you’re experiencing regular bruxism. A medical opinion can help you determine the best solution for your particular case, as well as assessing the tenderness of your jaw muscles and the damage done to your teeth so that you can avoid costly repairs in the future.