If someone tells you that you are habitual of grinding your teeth while sleeping, you must pay significant importance to get rid of this habit.
Teeth grinding (commonly referred to as bruxism) often occurs during sleep. The bruxism that occurs during sleep is called sleep or nocturnal bruxism.
There are plenty of remedies available for curing bruxism, especially when you are sleeping. If you grind your teeth during the night, you can do plenty of things to stop it. Some remedies work better than others; however, choosing which method depends on the underlying cause of your teeth grinding and symptoms.
In this dental guide, we will share a few effective remedies that can help get rid of teeth bruxism, especially during the night. So, stay connected and continue reading this dental guide to exploring a few easy methods of getting rid of night bruxism.
How to Stop Night Bruxism? – 5 Effective Tips
Here are a few effective tips to get rid of teeth grinding during the night.
1. Wear Nightguards
Mouthguards are a type of occlusal splints that are an effective remedy for sleep bruxism. These custom nightguards cushion your teeth and stop them from grinding against each other when you are sleeping. You can purchase over-the-counter mouthguards or get them custom-prepared at a dentist’s office. Custom-made mouthguards are usually more expensive than OTC alternatives; however, they are better for some people.
Custom-made mouthguards are available in varying degrees of thickness. These guards are specifically designed depending on your unique jaw size and shape. Hence, they comfortably fit on your teeth. Also, custom-made mouthguards are more comfortable than store-bought mouthguards because they are made of softer material.
If you are suffering from chronic sleep bruxism, custom-made mouthguards may help protect your teeth from damage. They also help in reducing the strain on your jaw. So, the best way of protecting your teeth from grinding at night is by wearing a Sporting Smiles night guards.
2. Botox
Studies suggest that injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) may help in reducing pain and the frequency of teeth grinding in healthy patients. However, more research is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of using Botox for treating teeth grinding. So, must consult your dentist before choosing this treatment method.
In this procedure, a medical professional injects small amounts of Botox directly into the masseter, a large muscle that moves the jaw. Botox may not cure bruxism; however, it can help in relaxing masseter muscle.
3. Biofeedback
Becoming aware of the behavior helps in alleviating both sleep and awake bruxism. Biofeedback is an effective technique that helps people become aware of and eliminate the behavior. The therapist will teach you how to control your jaw muscle movements through visual, vibratory, or auditory feedback generated from electromyography during biofeedback.
Biofeedback can be an effective treatment for getting rid of bruxism; however, more research is needed in this regard.
4. Reductive Coronoplasty
Reductive Coronoplasty is a dental procedure that helps reshape or level the biting surface of your teeth. This treatment is incredibly effective when your teeth grinding is caused by crowded, misaligned, or crooked teeth.
A second procedure called additive coronoplasty may be used to build up the teeth for certain cases. The dentist will carefully examine your situation and suggest the best treatment method.
5. Reduce Stress
Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress are the major causes of bruxism. In most cases, stress is the major cause of bruxism. If you grind your teeth during the night, stress-reduction techniques may help get rid of the situation in most cases. Furthermore, stress reduction techniques also benefit your overall health.
Some of the effective ways of reducing stress are; talk therapy, yoga, meditation, exercise, and indulging in healthy activities.
Final Words
If you are habitual of grinding your teeth at night, plenty of remedies are available to get rid of this situation. Otherwise, it can cause serious complications. You can adopt any of the above methods to avoid this situation.