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How to reduce tooth grinding
How to reduce tooth grinding
Causes
It is not clear that why people grind their teeth. However, it is often linked to:
- Stress and anxiety – the most common cause of teeth grinding
- Snoring and sleep apnoea
- Certain medicines such as antidepressant
- Smoking, drinking lots of alcohol and caffeine and taking drugs
How to reduce tooth grinding?
- Try to find ways to relax yourself such as by taking regular exercise, listening to music and doing breathing exercise
- Going to bed at the same time every night and relaxing before bedtime
- Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if your jaw is painful or swollen
- Ice pack could be useful to help to reduce jaw pain or swelling
- Regular dental check-ups to detect early tooth damage due to grinding
You may experience the following symptoms if you grind your teeth:
- Face, neck and shoulder pain
- A painful jaw especially when you wake up from sleep in the morning
- Worn-down teeth which causes sensitivity and loss of teeth and fillings
- Headaches
- Insufficient sleep
Treatment:
A dentist can prescribe you a nightguard to be worn at night to protect your teeth from damage resulting from grinding. It is fitted precisely over your teeth.