Bad habits are hard to overcome; there is a reason why they are habits after all. People do things with even realizing it a lot of the time, especially for things such as biting your nails, playing with your hair and fiddling with a pen. Today we will be talking about bruxism, the act of grinding your teeth.

WHY PEOPLE GRIND AND CLENCH THEIR TEETH

For many, grinding and clenching your teeth are a coping mechanism during stressful and uncomfortable situations. People can also end up doing this for the same reason one might bounce their leg; they do it as a fidgeting habit. In more severe circumstances, they feel like they have to do it due to muscle memory.

CONSEQUENCES OF BRUXISM

Putting a lot of abuse on your teeth like this will wear them down and cause damage. In more extreme cases, teeth can eventually crack if the structure of the tooth is weakened enough. This will lead to tooth sensitivity, making it hard to consume things that are hot, cold or even sweet. Other symptoms include jaw pain and loss of sleep.

HOW TO OVERCOME BRUXISM

First, identify why you grind/clench your teeth. Try to catch yourself in the act of doing it and think about why you do it. If it is a coping mechanism, consider training a more positive habit such as deep breaths or even fidgeting with a stress ball or fidget stick. You can also practice stress-relieving tactics; many people recommend yoga as a way to free their minds.

If you are grinding your teeth at night, unknowingly, mouth guards are an excellent solution in helping to prevent damage. Mouthguards can be custom made for a fit that is more comfortable. This is especially good for more severe cases of Bruxism. You can also buy over-the-counter mouthguards at a pharmacy. However, they are not as good as the ones we can create for you. Call integratedDENTAL today to find out more about how a mouthguard could help stop the effects of your bruxism.