Emergency Dentist: How Can You Stop Clenching Your Teeth (and prevent a dental emergency)

Do you constantly grind your teeth?  Well, teeth grinding is a condition that many people suffer from. But, did you know the teeth grinding can lead to a dental emergency? Teeth grinding can lead to a number of dental emergencies which include tooth damage, stress fractures which affect the molar, gum recession, jaw damage and many others. Therefore, it is important to stop grinding your teeth to have good oral health and avoid a dental emergency situation. Here are some tips to help you stop grinding your teeth.

At-Rest Position for Your Mouth
You can stop grinding your teeth by observing the at-rest position for your mouth. For this, you need to keep your lips closed and teeth slightly apart. Make sure that your tongue tip is elevated to the bump behind your upper teeth or between the teeth. This reduces the tension on the temporomandibular joint which is one of the reasons for teeth grinding while you are sleeping.

Mouth Guard
You can avoid a dental emergency by using a mouth guard. Take the help of your dentist to get a customized mouth guard that fits perfectly in your mouth. The use of mouth guard helps you to protect your teeth and avoid a dental emergency situation. Since clenching teeth takes place when you are sleeping, wear the customized mouth guard before you go to sleep.

Reduce Stress
Stress is a key factor for clenching your teeth. Find out different ways to reduce your stress. You may try stress exercises, medication, yoga, or even consult a professional counselor to help you cope up with stress in your daily life. The key is to stay calm and cool before you go to bed. Try to keep away from negative thoughts and be at peace with yourself. This helps in having a good night sleep and prevents you from grinding your teeth.

Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
Consuming alcohol has a drastic effect on the quality of your sleep. Therefore, it is one of the main causes of teeth grinding. At the same time, avoid consuming caffeine drinks before going to bed. Caffeine acts as a stimulating substance that disturbs your sleep and as a result it urges you to clench your teeth.

Correct Misaligned Teeth
Misaligned teeth are not properly aligned with your upper and lower jaw and this is one of the reasons for teeth grinding. Get in touch with your dentist who will correct your misaligned teeth. The dentist will use orthodontics or braces (or invisible braces) to correct the misaligned teeth. This will help you to stop grinding your teeth and it also improves your bite as well.

Apart from following these tips, make sure you drink more water and get enough sleep to reduce the chances of stressing yourself. Try to remain calm and avoid grinding your teeth when you become angry. In case your teeth have eroded or you are experiencing any difficulty on account of teeth grinding, get in touch with an emergency dental clinic.

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