DO YOU wake up in the morning with an aching jaw, headache, and difficulty opening your mouth? You have probably been grinding your teeth.Regular grinding, known as bruxism, can wear teeth away and almost rivals snoring on the annoyance scale.
- Stress is believed to be a major role in the condition and it is also linked to the non-alignment of the top and bottom teeth.
- The mind subconsciously tries to correct the position during sleep, triggering the grinding.
- Other causes include snoring and sleep apnoea, where the upper airway relaxes during sleep causing blockage of airflow.
- Drinking tea and coffee or alcohol before going to bed can also increase the chance of tooth grinding.
- Some may be unaware they are grinding away so it’s worth asking the dentist for a check-up.
- Damage to teeth can often be repaired and there are mouth-guards available to help protect from further damage.
You may have to wear this mouth-guard for life and it’s worth finding out if it needs to be renewed as your teeth change.
- If the grinding is due to misalignment you should talk to your dentist about a brace.
- Other possible remedies include hypnosis and behavioural therapy to allow you relax.
- Avoid chewing gum: the repetitive action of chewing is almost identical to the motion of the jaw during bruxism.
- Hold a warm, damp cloth to your face before bedtime to relax the jaw.
