Teeth grinding can be a real pain—pun intended! It’s a fairly common problem in patients of any age. In some instances, it can be caused by stress and may go away on its own when you’re no longer stressed. Other times, the cause is a bad bite. Regardless of why you grind your teeth, it can be difficult to fix by yourself.
Do You Grind Your Teeth?
One way to tell if you’re grinding your teeth is a sore jaw when you wake up. You may also experience a dull, constant headache from the pressure you put on your jaw. If you don’t receive treatment, your teeth may wear down over time, causing you to lose teeth.
A Mouthguard Can Help.
At Olson Orthodontics, we can provide a mouthguard that fits your individual smile to protect your teeth from the effects of teeth grinding while you sleep. If a bad bite is causing the grinding, Dr. Olson can examine your jaw as well as the teeth to determine the best course of action. In many cases, we can treat a bad bite with braces alone.
How Can You Reduce Teeth Grinding?
While a mouthguard and orthodontic treatment can fix the physical symptoms, reducing your stress levels may help reduce how often you grind your teeth. We recommend avoiding alcohol and caffeine when possible and practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga or meditation. If you find yourself grinding your teeth throughout the day, try putting your tongue between your teeth. This will stop you from putting pressure on your jaw, and over time it can help you to train yourself to relax your jaw muscles.
For more information on teeth grinding or to schedule an appointment, contact us today!