Why Do People Grit Their Teeth at Night?
Teeth gritting or grinding, also known as bruxism, typically happens at night. Some people start as night grinders and catch themselves clenching and grinding their teeth during the day, too. If the gritting or grinding doesn't stop, it can cause broken or cracked teeth, morning headaches, jaw soreness or stiffness, earaches and even toothaches. Typically, teeth grinding starts in adulthood, but sometimes it can start with children also. Factors such as stress, a bad bite and the consumption of alcohol or caffeine can cause this condition.
Other People Are Reading
-
Stress
-
If you're grinding and gritting your teeth at night, one culprit can be stress--the main reason people grind their teeth. To determine whether stress is causing your bruxism, try to either eliminate the excess stress from your life or practice stress-relieving exercises before going to sleep at night. Charting your stress level and when you grind your teeth can be another helpful tool for getting to the root of a problem.
Incorrect Bite
-
An incorrect bite can cause teeth grinding because your brain is always trying to make your teeth to fit together properly. If there is no good place that the teeth fit properly, teeth grinding can occur. This can only be diagnosed by a dentist or orthodontist who typically takes a mold of your teeth to see how they fit together properly. Although scientists have been unable to prove a link to the two problems conclusively, once the bad bite is fixed, many people find relief from their teeth grinding.
-
Alcohol
-
Scientists have found that the consumption of alcohol can worsen or even begin teeth grinding in some people. If you find that after a few drinks you wake up with a sore jaw in the morning, you're most likely grinding your teeth and alcohol is the problem.
Caffeine
-
Caffeine can be another source of teeth grinding. Avoiding things such as soda, chocolate and coffee can help to eliminate some people's problems with teeth grinding. If you make an effort to eliminate these from your diet and you stop grinding your teeth at night, you may have found the cause of your teeth grinding.
Treatments
-
There are several treatment options for people with teeth grinding. Usually, the first choice for teeth grinders is to try a mouthguard, to keep the teeth from meeting and stop the grinding. Some people can't sleep with a mouthguard, although others sleep easily. Another way to stop the nightly grind is to get rid of stress--possibly through yoga and deep breathing exercises before bed--or in severe cases consulting a psychologist. For temporary relief, the doctor may prescribe muscle relaxers to be taken at bedtime. If an incorrect bite is the problem, fixing the bite with braces can help eliminate the grinding.
-
