Teeth Grinding: How to Save Your Teeth at Night

Teeth grinding at night is a common thing and can cause damage to your dental health. Read more to find out if you have the symptoms and what you can do to prevent the wear and tear on those pearly whites!

Whether or not you’re aware that you grind your teeth at night, it’s important to know how to prevent the damage that will happen over time. Some people under a lot of stress grind their teeth and they don’t even know it. The tell-tale sign is waking up to feel a dull, constant headache and/or pain in the jaws. This is medically known as, bruxism, and most people are affected by it. The long and short of it is this: when you grind your teeth, you can wear away tooth enamel which leads to sensitive teeth and tooth decay.

If you spot a tooth that is starting to chip, that’s because grinding can also cause damage to expensive dental work! The first thing you need to do when you pick up on these signs is to inform us. We can recommend treatment options that will save you headaches and jaw pain. But there are also many things you can do to help prevent bruxism in addition to dental treatments! Here are a few strategies to keep in mind:

Reduce Stress.  Take a bath before bed, meditate, and carve out some time in your day to purposefully relax, and do the things that you forget to make time for during your work week.

Avoid stimulating foods in the evening.  Limit popcorn, gum, and other chewy foods that promote a false sense of when your bite is fully clenched.

Have regular dental checkups.   Your oral health is indicative of your overall health! Tooth decay is always easier to treat at its earliest stages, so make your appointment today!

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