Have you ever woken after a poor night of sleep and felt your jaw was stiffer than usual. Most of us have felt this and simply shake it off as a symptom of a bad night but it is likely something more. It is estimated that 10% of the population grind their teeth at night and many don’t know. If you are someone that grinds your teeth or you suspect that you may be, then follow our advice below.
Grinding teeth is known by the medical term bruxism and it is pretty serious. While it may cause you to wake up with a sore jaw it can lead to more long-term complications down the line. So what causes bruxism?
Stress and anxiety are the main causes of bruxism. Everyone deals with stress differently and it appears that some people deal with it by grinding their teeth at night. Stress can cause migraines, stomach aches, sleepless nights, weight gain, and many other medical conditions. One of those conditions is the grinding of teeth. If you feel that you don’t worry and that stress isn’t something that bothers you, but you are grinding your teeth then this may be your subconscious trying to force you to deal with something that you are ignoring in your daily life.
Ignoring stress is not the way to solve it. Doctors advise that if you are experiencing grinding teeth on consecutive nights, try and think calmly before going to sleep. Work through all your issues from the day one by one and come up with a strategy of how to solve or make progress on each problem. This may help to make your subconscious relax about each issue.
If the problem persists you should see a dentist. They can fit your teeth to a special mouthguard that will protect your teeth until the grinding subsides. If uncheck, grinding your teeth can leave the bottoms of your teeth in poor shape and cause your teeth to become more sensitive.
As someone who never tends to worry and considers stress and anxiety a problem that I have never really had to experience, I was surprised to learn that I grind my teeth. I actually never realized until my partner told me one morning that the sound of my grinding teeth kept her awake one night. I was shocked.
After that, I started to pay more attention to my own body. I noticed that sometimes my jaw was a little sore in the morning, something I had ignored in the past. I also noticed that the bottom of my upper teeth would not straight and that my grinding must have been going on for some time as it had lefts its mark.
I started to wonder if I was suffering from stress. Although I didn’t feel like a stressed person there were significant changes taking place in my life and although I didn’t worry about them they were something that I thought about a lot. Perhaps my subconscious was worrying for me.
I went to the dentist and got fitted for a mouthguard. It fit very well and is easy to sleep with. I still prefer to sleep without it if I can. I don’t wear my mouth guard every night. Instead, if I wake up one morning with a sore jaw, I will wear it for the next few nights until I feel more relaxed.
Bruxism is just one more way that stress rears its ugly head. While a mouthguard may solve the symptoms it doesn’t solve the issue itself. If you are suffering from stress or anxiety, talk to someone. Never suffer in silence. While it may seem like a sign of strength it is just a fast road to an early grave. Talk to people you know who can help you through a tough time and if you can’t find anyone to talk to use any of the mental health hotlines that are available in your area.