Bruxism – Tips to Avoid the Daily Grind
- Posted on: Jan 15 2017
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Grinding your teeth (or Bruxism) is a condition that can occur during the day or, more commonly, during the night while you sleep. When bruxism is mild, treatment isn’t necessary. But if you clench your teeth so tightly that you’re getting regular headaches and a sore jaw, it’s time to look into treatment options. Otherwise, you could be doing significant damage to your teeth. Here are a few tips to help bring bruxism to a grinding halt:
Take Time to Wind Down Before Bed
Relaxing your mind and body before bedtime can help minimize your desire to grind your teeth while you sleep. You can help yourself relax by reading a chapter or two from a book before bed, listening to soothing music, soaking in a warm bath, and turning off all bright light sources like lamps and the TV.
Use a Warm Compress
Soak a piece of cloth in warm or hot water and place it over the jaw to help relax the jaw muscles. Repeat this twice a daily for 10 minutes each time.
Massage Your Jaw
Eliminate tension in your jaw muscles by gently placing your fingertips at your lower jaw, then slowly pushing your skin upward for about two minutes. This simple massage will help you relax, reduce jaw pain and reduce the need to clench your teeth.
Get Rid of Stress
Stress is perhaps one of the most common reasons for teeth grinding. To help eliminate stressors in your life, consider the reasons for your stress and strive to eliminate then. It’s also a good idea to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to help you get a good night’s sleep. You can also manage stress by engaging yourself in healthy and productive activities with friends, as well as by eating a healthy diet.
Take Supplements
To increase muscle strength, take vitamin C, calcium and magnesium supplements. Vitamin C is also particularly good at helping to maintain dopamine levels in your body to stabilize your mood.
Do you grind your teeth? Contact Robert D. Bankhardt, DDS in Simi Valley, CA
We can be reached here or by calling 805.584.1194. We look forward to hearing from you!
Posted in: Bruxism
