Tooth Grinding Pain

Tooth Pain – How to Stop Grinding Your Teeth

Do you have a habit of grind your teeth? Many people are not aware of the fact that they have a teeth grinding problem, unless their spouse or someone else happens to bring it to their attention or they begin to suffer from tooth pain for all of the damage done. Tooth grinding is a condition known as "Bruxism."

If your tooth pain has been diagnosed due to Bruxism, then the first form of pain relief that the dentist can prescribe for you is a bite guard. This is the first option and is only used if the tooth is not extremely damaged. If your grinding has caused damage through the top two layers of the tooth, then the bite guard will be too painful for you to wear. Instead, the dentist will have to do emergency surgery to correct the problem or extract the problem teeth. The reason that the teeth or tooth cannot be left as is, is due to the fact that food can get down into the hole that has been affected. This will make hygiene more of a problem, cause the tooth to decay more rapidly and, if the nerve has been exposed, cause pain on contact.

If you are unable to go to the dentist’s office immediately, there is very little that you can do about the grinding. However, you can treat the pain with over the counter medication and simple home remedies. If the pain is not severe, then Tylenol might relieve the pain temporarily until you can make it to see your health care provider. Numbing gels and creams, such as Ora-gel, are also very effective, but they are not known to last very long. A simple home remedy that has been very effective for some people is to bite on a wet black tea bag. The ingredients will help draw out the pain. Often, if the pain is not very severe, then the tea bag will treat the pain permanently. For jaw pain or neck pain, an ice pack or hot compress is very effective.

Another thing to consider is the reason behind why you started grinding your teeth in the first place. Do you have other nervous habits that must be treated? Are you drinking too many caffeine filled beverages each day, coffee, tea, soda pop, energy drinks, etc? Are you taking diet pills or illegal drugs, such as meth? If you have a problem with any of the above substances than you may need to see a regular doctor as well as a dentist. You must eliminate what is causing the Bruxism in order to eliminate the problem for good.

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