Has your spouse told you of your annoying habit of grinding your teeth when you are asleep? This disorder although not taken very seriously affects a considerable number of people. People who suffer from this disorder, known as Bruxism, involuntarily grind their teeth, either during the day or when they are asleep. Grinding of the teeth puts a lot of pressure on the teeth and the entire structure of the jaw
The pressure tends to be as much as five times if we grind our teeth when asleep. This problem results in injury or abrasion of the teeth, soreness and pain of the jaw and headache. If you are suffering from this problem, you should ideally get yourself checked up by a physician and visit a dentist. The physician will help to find the reasons behind the problem and the dentist will help to reduce the damage that may result to your teeth. Although grinding of the teeth may also be caused by problems that are related to just dental health such as misaligned teeth.
You may be under emotional stress or strain and grinding of your teeth may be a manifestation of that strain. Strangely enough, women are more prone to developing this condition compared to men.
In order to reduce the condition and to lessen the pain caused by Bruxism, the following measures are recommended.
1. Relax your jaw and facial muscles. There are a number of exercises that can help you to relax your facial muscles.
2. Take action to reduce stress. Take a long walk everyday. Walking is not only a good form of physical exercise, it also helps to reduce stress.
3. Place an ice pack on your jaw to reduce the pain caused by this condition.
4. Ensure that you keep your mouth hydrated by drinking water
Bruxism may be treated by a combination of medication and hypnosis. Consult your health care provider in order to cure this condition. |