If you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw and headache, then it’s time to talk to your dentist to learn how to stop grinding teeth. Teeth grinding (also known as bruxism), not only causes uncomfortable symptoms – but this issue can also damage your teeth over time.
The reality is that people of all ages need to stop tooth-grinding. This condition can affect both children and adults, and it’s important to seek treatment if you or a loved one is experiencing any symptoms.
How Can I Stop Grinding My Teeth Permanently?
The truth is that there are many causes of teeth grinding, which is why it’s important to talk to a specialist for personalized recommendations. Yes, it’s important to alleviate the immediate symptoms. But you won’t experience lasting relief without also addressing the underlying causes.
For example, if you are asking how to stop grinding your teeth, then you can start wearing a bite guard while you are sleeping. This dental device keeps your teeth separated so you don’t damage the teeth by clenching down and grinding during the night. The immediate symptoms might be alleviated, but you will need to continue wearing the bite guard.
At the same time, you also need to consider any other conditions that might be contributing to your teeth grinding. Ask your specialist: why am I grinding my teeth so much? Then work together to see if you can find any other issues.
Common causes include anxiety, stress, medications, genetics, bite misalignment, and sleep disorders (such as snoring or sleep apnea). If you have been diagnosed with any of these other issues, then treating that problem could naturally alleviate the teeth grinding at the same time. For example, orthodontics for correcting a bite misalignment could potentially reduce teeth grinding.
So, the best approach is often a dental device, and you should also seek other possibilities so that you can know how to stop grinding your teeth for good.
Signs You Are Grinding Your Teeth
Most people experiencing bruxism are grinding their teeth while sleeping. But some people also grind their teeth during the daytime. These are the most common indications that you need treatment for teeth grinding:
- Grinding noises while you are sleeping (other people can hear it)
- Teeth are worn down, chipped, or flattened on the chewing surfaces
- Tooth pain or increased sensitivity
- Jaw muscles are tight or tired
- Pain or stiffness in the jaw joint
- Headaches, particularly in the temples and when you wake up in the morning
- Facial pain or earaches
- Sleep disruptions
If you have any of these symptoms, then it’s time to reach out to our experienced team for a TMJ consultation. We will determine an accurate diagnosis, and then provide an effective treatment plan to alleviate your teeth-grinding symptoms – and also reduce the risk of complications in the future.
What is the Best Treatment for Teeth Grinding?
There are various treatments to consider if you want to know how to stop grinding teeth. The most important decision you will make about your treatment plan is to ensure that you are addressing the underlying causes. Some of the most common treatments for how to quit grinding teeth include:
- Night Guard: This dental appliance is a small tray that is worn in your mouth while you are sleeping. It is custom-fit to cover your teeth, helping to reduce grinding and protect your teeth at night.
- Stress Management: If anxiety and stress are contributing to your teeth grinding, then consider stress management techniques as part of your strategy for how to stop teeth grinding. Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, and counseling could all be good options to integrate into your life.
- Other Health Conditions: Talk to a sleep specialist to see if you have any sleep disorders that need to be treated. Also, look at any other medical conditions that could be contributing, such as Parkinson’s Disease.
- Medications or Substances: You might be on medications that contribute to bruxism, such as antidepressants. Your doctor might adjust your dosage. It’s also important to note that teeth grinding can be exacerbated by the use of alcohol and caffeine.
- Other Treatments: Sometimes, patients find success with other treatments or therapies. For example, some doctors offer Botox injections in the jaw joint to stop the muscles from tightening. Other options include muscle relaxants, physical therapy, or biofeedback.
What Happens If Teeth Grinding Is Left Untreated?
Not only will you experience ongoing symptoms from untreated teeth grinding, such as headaches and tightness in the jaw, but it can also result in serious damage to the teeth. Some patients come to our office when it’s too late, asking can teeth grinding be reversed?
There is no way to reverse the damage to your natural teeth. Luckily, modern dentistry can be used to restore teeth using fillings, veneers, crowns, and more.
A better solution is to ask as soon as possible: how do I stop grinding teeth? It’s best to take a preventive approach for this treatment instead of waiting until the damage has been done. Not only is early intervention cheaper (a night guard is only a few hundred dollars, while restorative dentistry can be thousands of dollars), but you can save yourself the pain and discomfort of damaged teeth.
Why Professional Teeth Grinding Treatment Instead of DIY Remedies
You might search online “how to stop grinding teeth” and find recommendations for at-home remedies, such as:
- Relaxation techniques
- Warm compresses
- Self-massage for the jaw
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
While all of these DIY remedies can help, they don’t offer the effective results that can be achieved from professional treatments. You should always consult with an experienced dentist for an accurate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to use generic bite guards from a local store. Even though you can find a cheap bite guard at the pharmacy, these DIY devices don’t offer the same results available from a professional bite guard. These cheaper guards can sometimes cause the symptoms to get worse, resulting in a more urgent need to visit a dentist for assistance.
The Results are Amazing
When our patients ask how to stop grinding teeth, they are often amazed to see the results that can be achieved with these treatments. For example, some people tell us after using their night guard for a while that they feel so much better – they didn’t realize that they were living with constant headaches before.
You deserve to feel good. Also, these treatments are very important to avoid damage to your teeth. The reality is that many patients can achieve excellent results by using a night guard, which is a simple and affordable way to make a difference in their overall comfort.
We offer bite guard treatments, as well as full-service dentistry… giving you one place where you can access everything you need for the whole family. Contact us at (860) 889-6445.