Grinding Teeth Mouth Guard

The Truth About Bruxism

If you have a problem with grinding your teeth at night, or habitually clenching them during the day, you have what medical doctors refer to as Bruxism and there are simple ways to find relief.  

This condition affects millions of people all over the world, both men and women, as well as children and adults. We don't really know exactly how many people suffer from this, because many people who have it don't really know it. What is Bruxism? For the layman out there, Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. It affects over a million people worldwide. The numbers are probably larger than that because the majority of people that have the condition don't know that they have it.    

Not only do these people suffer from Bruxism, but the people who share a bed with them are victims as well.  If you have Bruxism, your bed partner has to bear the grinding and clenching noises while you sleep the night away.  I myself suffer from this condition, and my poor wife has to try and sleep through the annoying sounds I make with my jaw and teeth.  So we need to keep these silent victims in mind also as we seek relief from this subconscious teeth clenching.    

Now, there is something you can try that may help you to reduce or even eliminate your Bruxism. There are some exercised you can practice daily, that could make your nights much easier and improve your sleep. If you have stress related teeth grinding these exercises will be of great benefit to you. Stress generated Bruxism is the most common reason for this condition, and is usually brought on by the stress you endure throughout your daily routine. One particular stress relief exercise requires that you massage the muscles on the corner of your jaw, and this provides relief for any TMJ related Bruxism you may have. When gently rub these muscles and ligaments in increases the blood flow to the temporomandibular joint of the jaw. This joint especially is crucial to finding relief for those that suffer from Bruxism. The massaging routines can also help reduce headaches that frequently occur as a byproduct of your TMJ related Bruxism. During the massage, any pain you may have starting in the corner of the jaw, moving up to your temple, and around to the base of your neck can be relieve from a deep tissue type circular massage. Learning the proper technique for this exercise is the key to finding some instant relief for any pain.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is no certain cure for Bruxism, only things you can try to help manage it.  A few treatments are available to serve as possible remedies for Bruxism.  A good resource to identify your options is to seek a dental professional.  If you stand by and do nothing, your teeth can wear away in a permanent manner that can not be restored.  This can go on for years and remain unnoticed.  You see, people who experience Bruxism are doing it subconsciously, and they would stop if they could.  Often times your only clue that you have this condition is waking up in the morning with a sore jaw, and sensitive gums and teeth.  Also, you may find that your facial muscles become stiff, tight, and painful.   

When you visit  your dentist he may recommend that you use a teeth grinding mouth guard to help with your Bruxism.  This night guard will help you from further damaging your teeth, and reduce the stress your jaw muscles experience.  A night mouth guard is a food grade piece of plastic that fits the upper and lower teeth and protects them from night time grinding.  If your teeth have been damaged already, your dentist may try to save what is left with your teeth.  He may do this by installing caps or crown around affected and damaged teeth.