Natural Ways to Prevent Bruxism and Teeth Grinding

Waking up with severe headaches in the morning is a common symptom of bruxism and teeth grinding. These dental conditions disturb sleep and must, therefore, be treated immediately. If not, they can lead to severe dental complications, such as damaged teeth or jaw pain. In this blog, we will naturally understand how to stop bruxism and teeth grinding with different home remedies.

Understanding Bruxism and Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is a dental term used for teeth grinding. It is a subconscious act of putting strain on jaws and clenching them usually in sleep. When you keep applying pressure on your smile, your teeth are more likely to be damaged. Therefore, going through severe bruxism requires treatment as soon as possible.

Causes of Bruxism and Teeth Grinding

The following are the causes of bruxism and teeth grinding:

• Anxiety

  Stress and anxiety are the leading causes of brux ism and teeth grinding. Severe anxiety can lead to muscle tension further, causing jaw tightness. This makes a person clench or grind their teeth while sleeping.

• TMJ

  TMJ is a dental condition caused by the stiffness of temporomandibular joints. There are two of these joints present on each side of the jaws, right in front of the ears. People may clench or grind their teeth to cope with the discomfort and pain caused by temporomandibular joints.

• Sleep Disorder

  Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea disturb sleep and can lead to bruxism. Disorders such as sleep apnea stop breathing temporarily at night. This disturbs the oxygen level in your body. Difficult breathing and lack of oxygen in the body lead to muscle tension, causing severe teeth grinding.

• Dental Misalignments

  When your bite does not come together due to misalignment, you might make an effort to find a better resting position for your smile. This leads to involuntary bruxism and grinding while you sleep.

Home Remedies For Teeth Grinding

If you are looking for ways to avoid bruxism naturally the following tips will help you out:

Wearing a Night Guard For Bruxism

Night guards are dental devices that are placed inside the mouth. These are customized plastic dental trays offering a snug fit to your smile. They act as a barrier between the jaws and prevent them from meeting each other. Therefore, wearing a night guard in your mouth protects your smile throughout the night.

Types of Night Guards

The following are the types of night guards offered to you depending on the severity of your dental condition:

• Soft Night Guard

  A soft night guard is made of 3 mm EVA plastic material specifically used for mild to moderate teeth grinding.

• Hard Night Guard

  This type of night guard is made of 2mm PTEG material and is used for severe teeth grinding. It is made of a hard material that keeps your jaws in place.

• Hybrid Night Guard

  The hybrid night guard considers your comfort and protection with a soft interior and hard exterior.

Benefits of Wearing a Night Guard

Wearing a night guard to avoid bruxism offers the following benefits:

• Avoids Dental Damage

  Clenching and grinding your smile can lead to dental damage such as broken or chipped teeth. This also makes your teeth sensitive by damaging the enamel layer on your teeth. Wearing a night guard keeps your jaws and teeth protected and prevents damaging your perfect smile.

• TMJ Relief

  When you wear a night guard, it keeps your jaws in place and releases stress on the jaw points. This offer decreases TMJ pain and discomfort from your jaws.

• Customized Fit

  When it comes to wearing a dental product comfort plays an important role. Night guards are customized according to the size of your mouth to fit perfectly. This prevents irritating your gums and boosts comfort throughout the night.

• Avoids Headache

  Experiencing severe headaches is a common symptom of bruxism and teeth grinding. With the help of a night guard, you can prevent grinding teeth, which further helps in avoiding severe headaches.

• Improves Sleep Quality

  Teeth grinding and bruxism can cause pain and discomfort in your jaw muscles which disturbs your sleep quality. Wearing a night guard does not compromise your sleep by avoiding grinding and clenching.

How To Keep Your Night Guard Maintained?

Consider the following tips for keeping your night guard maintained:

• Daily Cleaning

  Ensure daily cleaning of your night guard to keep it hygienic. Rinse your night guard before putting it in your mouth to make sure no dust particles remain on the surface. Repeat the process after removing it to prepare it for the next use.

  You can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently clean your night guard. This will help your dental product avoid staining and bad odor and keep it fresh.

• Proper Storage

  Storing a night guard plays a crucial role as once you remove your night guard, getting a storage case can help secure your night guard. Rinse it under water, let it dry, and store it inside a plastic case.

• Avoiding Biting on Them

  

  Biting or chewing with your night guard on is strictly prohibited. As they are made of plastic material, they might get damaged when you bite on them. Therefore, have your meal and then put it in your mouth to prevent harming your gums, tongue, and night guard.

• Inspect Damage

  Keep inspecting your night guard. If it has a slight wear and tear it might lose its effectiveness and can cause damage to your mouth. Get it replaced or contact your dentist as early as possible.

Protect Your Smile with ALIGNERCO

ALIGNERCO offers custom-fit night guards made from durable material in the following steps:

1. Make an order for your customized night guard. We will deliver the ALIGNERCO at-home impression kit to your doorstep.

2. The impression kit comes with a guide that helps you create your smile impressions at home.

3. Once you are done with the procedure, send your impressions back to us.

4. Receive your custom-fit night guards at your doorstep and wear them to prevent bruxism and teeth grinding while sleeping.

To sum it up, a person experiencing bruxism and teeth grinding should get it treated. If not, it can lead to severe dental health issues such as chipped or cracked teeth. You can avoid teeth grinding naturally by managing stress levels, jaw exercises, or using a warm compress. Other than these natural ways, you can wear a night guard in your mouth. This works as a cushion between your jaws and prevents bruxism and teeth grinding at night. Protect your smile by wearing ALIGNERCO’s customized night guards throughout the night.