If you are habitual of grinding or clenching your teeth while sleeping, wearing a mouth guard or mouth splint at night may help. Mouth guards and mouth splints balance the pressure across your jaw and create a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth. This barrier protects them from further damage. They can also be effective at reducing any grinding noises you make at night.
Mouth guards are made from rubber or plastic and look similar to those used in sports. They can be made by a dentist to fit your mouth. You can also buy an over-the-counter mouth guard, but it’s unlikely to fit like a custom-made one.
A mouth splint is a harder plastic and fits perfectly over your upper or lower teeth. They are more or less the same as mouth guards in reducing the symptoms of teeth grinding. But they are more expensive as they have a long lifespan, whereas mouth guards usually only last for 8 to 10 months.
Treating stress and anxiety
If stress or anxiety in the leading cause of your teeth grinding, psychological treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), may help. Trying to relax and getting a good night’s sleep also helps if your teeth grinding is stress-related.
There are numerous things you can try to help you relax before going to bed, including:
- yoga
- reading
- deep breathing
- having a bath
- massage
- listening to music
Treating and preventing dental problems
You should pay frequent visits to your dentist so that any problems caused by your teeth grinding can be treated at the earliest to avoid further damage.
Dental problems, such as cracked, misaligned, or missing teeth, can usually be treated with reconstructive dental treatments, such as overlays, false teeth, and crowns. These treatments can help reshape the chewing surface of your teeth and stop you from grinding.
To book an appointment with Porter Smiles Dental, call at 281 519 7200.