Bruxism is a byproduct of stress and other factors. Bruxism is an involuntary habit of grinding your teeth. Typically, a person with bruxism grinds their teeth during their sleep. There are several causes for bruxism. People can grind their teeth due to an abnormal bite. Some people grind their teeth as a result of crooked, misaligned, or missing teeth. Sleep disorders are also to blame for bruxism. Sometimes we see patients with sleep apnea who also grind their teeth when they sleep. Managing your stress is only one part of overcoming bruxism.
Managing Your Stress Can Help Bruxism
There are several things you can do to reduce bruxism. Reducing stress is the top trigger to bruxism. Make sure you plan time away from work each day. Use manual techniques to access your parasympathetic nervous system so you can relax. Incorporate exercise into your day. If that is impossible, take a few deep breaths at your next coffee break. Choose to be grateful for your circumstances. You may also want to schedule time with a therapist to talk through some things that may be bothering you. Managing your stress will help to reduce bruxism, but there are other things you can do as well.
Help Bruxism After You Are Calm
After you have managed your stress, try other proactive measures to reduce bruxism. Talk to us about how a nighttime mouthguard could help with your bruxism. We have seen patients overcome the side effects of bruxism by simply wearing a mouthguard.
Schedule Your Routine Dental Cleaning and Exam
Make sure to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam. We can look for signs of bruxism and help you talk through how to reduce your stress, as well as discuss other ways to mitigate bruxism.
