Teeth grinding during sleep is called in the medical terms as bruxism. Aside from grinding of the teeth, it may also involve clenching. The grinding may be unconscious but the sufferer may also be doing it consciously.

Of course, people who grind their teeth during sleep may not know about this habit but it can be a burden for their partners and roommates and can also be embarrassing when you get to sleep with other people around. It can be more similar to snoring but teeth grinding can be a little disturbing, especially if you get to hear it from kids.

Causes of teeth grinding

The causes of teeth grinding during sleep are not fully understood but the most common factors associated with its occurrence are stress and anxiety. The stress of everyday life can be a trigger to many individuals especially if you are exposed to excessive stress. Aside from that, other possible causes that have been identified in relation to teeth clenching and grinding are misaligned teeth, bad posture, the development of the jaws in the case of children, diet and eating disorders, your sleeping habits, your ability to relax as well as some suppressed anger and frustrations.

Teeth grinding during sleep is also said to be common in certain personality types such as those who are aggressive and hyperactive individuals. Most often, teeth grinding during sleep happens to children, but this can however disappear on its own as they enter adolescence.

How to deal with this disorder

Teeth grinding during sleep is not just a disturbance to your sleep partner or roommate and to other people – it can also damage your teeth and can sometimes be painful. To avoid these, these are ways to help you deal with bruxism.

One thing that you can do to stop teeth grinding during sleep is to learn some relaxation techniques like meditation, massage, or even reading to help you relieve the stress you experience daily. Learn to reduce stress as much as possible and learn to exercise too. A simple relaxation technique to help you relax your facial muscles especially your jaws can also be of great help. Massage your jaw muscles and the areas around it to relieve tension in those places.

Putting a mouth guard or splint is also another option to stop teeth grinding or at least, prevent this habit from damaging your teeth. A splint may help you in stopping yourself from clenching your teeth while sleeping, although it may not work for others. You can also choose from different types of splints to help you find a type that is effective for your teeth.

If you have misaligned teeth, you may want to seek advice from your orthodontist to help you correct your bite pattern.

Aside from that, you may also want to watch your diet and stick to healthy foods. Also make sure you get to drink plenty of water everyday and get a good night sleep as well. All these will at least give improvement in overcoming teeth grinding during sleep.

Another technique that have been said to be of big help in overcoming this disorder is self-hypnosis.

Author: Carolyn Anderson

Carolyn Anderson used to suffer from teeth grinding when she was younger. For a step-by-step guide to help you get rid of teeth grinding during sleep, check out Save Your Smile Stop Grinding. Also check out TMJ No More, a proven system to naturally and permanently eliminate TMJ.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Anderson

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