7 Ways To Help You Stop Grinding Your Teeth at Night

Teeth grinding, technically called bruxism, can have different causes but stress, crooked or missing teeth, and medical conditions usually trigger this habit. This condition has been recently linked to another unpleasant condition called sleep apnea.

Grinding your teeth at night seems to be like something that you shouldn’t worry about, but it’s actually a pretty big deal. Teeth grinding can not only damage your teeth but is could also lead to headaches and facial pain. Fortunately, there are things you can do to stop it. Some remedies may work better than others, depending on the underlying cause of your teeth grinding and symptoms.

1. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Many lifestyle choices can increase the cycle of bruxism, especially with the use of psychoactive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and caffeine. Drinking alcohol excessively doubles a patient’s chance of developing sleep bruxism.

2. Reduce stress levels in your life.

Try to relax before bedtime because being calm before sleeping can help reduce teeth grinding. Vitamin C and B-5 are natural stress reducers, so taking in sufficient amounts of these vitamins can ease your bruxism as well.

3. Stop chewing things that are not food.

4. Involve calcium and magnesium in your diet.

Calcium and magnesium contribute to normal muscle function and regulate the nervous system, which is a huge help in preventing teeth grinding.

5. Pay attention to clenching.

Train yourself to be alert every time you grind your teeth. That way, you’ll be aware of how your jaw and teeth behave and could get the chance to relax them.

6. Relax properly before bed.

Try to relax before you go to sleep. Some ways to relax are reading a book, exercising, meditating, or take a warm bath before going to bed.

7. Get a mouth guard.

A mouth guard won’t stop you from grinding, but it will protect your teeth. However, some say that it could actually make your sleep apnea worse. With that said, it is safe to say that a mouth guard or a night guard doesn’t work for everyone who suffers from bruxism.