Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, affects numerous people. Unfortunately, it can cause a variety of problems such as sensitive teeth, headaches, jaw pain, and more. If you are one of the many who grind your teeth during the day or at night and wonder why it’s happening and what your dentist in Medina, OH can do about it, here’s what you need to know.

Stress and Anxiety

Should you be under stress at school, work, or within your personal life, the anxiety you are feeling will likely be a primary reason why you are grinding your teeth. For some people, this habit is developed and exacerbated when they are involved in intense concentration, such as when taking a test.

Foods and Drugs

Unfortunately, if you love coffee, alcoholic drinks, or tobacco products, all of these can be causing your teeth grinding. In many instances, these things cause or worsen acid reflux in certain individuals, which is often related to nighttime teeth grinding. In some cases, people who are taking medications to treat depression report teeth grinding to be a side effect. By cutting back or eliminating some of these items from your life, your teeth grinding may disappear as well.

Treatments

2If you suffer from teeth grinding, your dentist will probably outfit you with a night guard. Resembling a retainer you may have worn years ago if you had braces, the night guard will be customized for your mouth and be worn while you sleep to prevent your teeth from being damaged. Other forms of treatment can include being prescribed muscle relaxers that help relax the jaw at night, or using stress management techniques such as biofeedback or meditation to reduce stress levels.

Address the Underlying Cause

While dentists agree these treatments can be effective, they also emphasize that patients need to address the underlying cause of their teeth grinding. Since no treatment is looked upon as a silver bullet, getting to the cause of stress, anxiety, and tension can be life-changing and put a stop to teeth grinding.

Whether you grind your teeth more during the day or night, finding out why it is happening and seeking appropriate dental treatment is important. Rather than risk tooth fractures or jaw issues, discuss your teeth grinding in detail with your dentist in Medina, OH