If you tend to grind your teeth, whether it’s at night or during the day, our Ross Family Dental team has some helpful tips for you!
Teeth grinding is extremely harmful to your oral health, especially because it can cause cracked, fractured, and worn-down teeth. It can also harm your jaw. So, the best thing you can do for your smile is try to quit the habit as soon as possible. Dr. Steven Ross and our team recommend doing so by doing the following things:
Reduce your stress: Try to reduce your stress by attending stress counseling classes, seeing a physical therapist, exercising, or taking muscle relaxant medications. This can be extremely helpful, especially because teeth grinding is often caused by stress.
Wear a mouthguard: Mouthguards are beneficial appliances that cover your chompers and protect them from injury, which is why it’s recommended to wear a guard while you sleep if you tend to grind your teeth. If you wear a guard, your teeth won’t touch, which will keep them from harming and destroying each other.
Adjust your lifestyle: There are some lifestyle changes you can make that will help you stop the habit. Some of those changes are: cutting back on caffeinated drinks, avoiding alcohol, staying away from tooth-harming habits (like chewing on pens and pencils), and trying relaxation techniques.
For more information and tips about how to break your teeth-grinding habit in Salinas, California, please call 831-422-5351 today and schedule an appointment with your dentist. Our team will be more than happy to help you!