What Are The 5 Effective Steps to Stop Teeth Clenching?

Do you wake up with neck pain, sore jaws and headaches? Then chances are you might be unconsciously clenching or grinding your teeth, and this is called as bruxism. Though it's a common disorder when the condition becomes severe it can leave a harmful impact on the overall quality of teeth by fracturing it, deteriorating the enamel and even loosening of the earlier dental treatments. So, how can you save your smile and stop clenching every now and then?

Teeth Clenching

There are many steps that can be taken to stop teeth clenching, though most of them may not show immediate results, with time you will realize that the effects of bruxism have vanished and this itself is an indication that the methods are working. Anxious about managing to clench, read on to find out more about how to deal with this disorder.

1. Learn to manage and reduce stress

Striving in a stressful environment has never been easy and if not managed appropriately it can trigger several complications, grinding of teeth is one of them. If you are seeing a rough path of life, learn to calm yourself down and practice relaxing techniques such as listening to music, emotional freedom therapies and more that would relieve the stress and help you manage teeth clenching effectively. Remember: never skip counselling sessions by professionals as you never know the difference that it can bring to your life.

2. Wear Splint or Mouth Guard

Splints and mouth guards can be worn at night to prevent unconscious clenching of teeth. These are not designed to eliminate the disorder; still, they protect the teeth from the friction caused during grinding or clenching. They can be purchased as over-the-counter (OTC) or you can get yourself a customized one from the dentist. Basically, the custom-made guards are of superior quality and work better in offering protection against teeth clenching.

3. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine

Stay away from alcohol, caffeine, and other such stimulants, especially in the evening. Soda, chocolates, and tea must be consumed in limits and should be wiped off after dinner. Such stimulates affect your sleep quality, making you clench the teeth while you sleep. Similarly, quit alcohol as even this has an adverse impact on the sleep cycle.

Teeth Clenching

4. Correction of Misaligned Teeth

If bruxism occurred due to misalignment of teeth, then correcting the same would help significantly. The dentist would fit your teeth using braces or orthodontics to correct the alignment. If the condition has worsened to an extent that you are not able to chew food properly then the dentist may suggest reconstructive treatment like overlays or crowns.

5. Muscle Relaxant

If the condition is too severe without any misalignment then the dentist would suggest muscle relaxant medications before going to sleep. This keeps the jaw muscles relaxed so that it does not clench the way it used to. Most of the drugs can cause addiction; hence proper medical supervision is essential once you start consuming them. 

Seek Professional Help to Fight Clenching of Teeth

If after following the five effective steps, you notice absolutely no difference in the pattern of clenching and grinding of teeth then it is advised to seek professional help at once. The sooner you address the symptoms of bruxism the easier it will be to heal them, because, with time as the condition advances, its treatment becomes complicated too. Therefore, take action against teeth clenching the moment when you realize something is not right with them. As professional help taken at on-time can help you conquer your fight against this disorder.