8 Ways To Stop Grinding Your Teeth

Do you  ever wake up with a headache or sore jaw?

Are your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold drinks or sugary candies?

Many people believe they have a cavity when in fact they are grinding their teeth.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is excessive grinding of your teeth along with excessive clenching of your jaw.

Within bruxism there are two different kinds to be aware of. Sleep bruxism and awake bruxism. They are defined below:

Sleep Bruxism: Occurs during your sleep. Your symptoms will be worse in the morning and improve as the days go on.

Awake Bruxism: Occurs during the course of your day. Your symptoms are exactly the opposite of sleep bruxism. You will have no symptoms when you wake up in the morning but will notice symptoms later in the day.

The damage that the two types of bruxism are very similar. Dr. Faist would like to offer those in Beachwood, OH some tips on how to avoid grinding your teeth.

1. Reduce Stress – Being stressed is the main cause of grinding your teeth. You should try to eliminate sources of stress if possible, listen to relaxing music, or try yoga to eliminate stress.
2. Have a regular sleep schedule.
3. Remember to save time in your life for fun.
4. Stick to a well-balanced diet.
5. Avoid consuming caffeine and alcohol before you go to sleep. Both of these can be major causes of bruxism.
6. Relax your jaw while you are awake.
7. Spend some time in relaxation before you go to sleep. Allow yourself to unwind and try to sleep with the TV off.
8. Contact Dr. Faist today for an appointment.

If you would like to learn of some treatment options please contact Dr. Faist today at his office in Beachwood, OH.