Common Questions About Curing Bruxism

If you are one of the millions around the world who suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding, you may find that treatments are certainly available, like mouth guards, and can be quite effective. However, you would much rather have a cure. Bruxism is actually best described as a habitual condition, which means it can be possible to cure teeth grinding. This, however, is much easier said, than done for most people. In most cases, the condition is triggered by some type of catalyst, like stress. Though that stress can certainly go away, the habit that you have developed will continue to be there. In order to find a cure for bruxism, you will need to essentially stop the unconscious action of grinding. This is where possible cures for bruxism can be found and though it will not be easy, curing bruxism is certainly a possibility for most sufferers of the condition.

Q: How Can I Stop My Bruxism or Clenching?

The first step in finding a cure for your bruxism will be to find the cause. The most common causes of teeth grinding are:

Stress – Stress is, by far, the most common reason for clenching and grinding, and through you may not be able to fully eliminate that stress, you can find other ways of alleviating it.
Diet – If your diet is heavy in sugar, caffeine or alcohol you may be disrupting your sleep and causing grinding to occur.
Medication – Certain medications, anti-depressants, in particular, can make people brux.
Misaligned Teeth – If none of the above make sense, it’s possible your teeth are not aligned correctly. Talk to your dentist to see if this could be the issue.

Once you have found the cause of your bruxism, you can focus on a cure.

Q: What Will Prevent Teeth Grinding?

Prevention is extremely important when it comes to teeth grinding and the best method of prevention is the use of a mouth guard. A mouth guard is not a cure for bruxing, but it will certainly help to stop more damage from occurring in your mouth and on your teeth. If you are familiar with a sports mouth guard, you will certainly recognize a mouth guard used for those suffering with bruxism as they are very similar. These mouth guards, or splints, as they are sometimes called, will keep your teeth from grinding against each other, though you will likely still grind or clench into the plastic guard. Some people wonder if you can use a sports guard, like Shock Doctor for grinding. Though any guard is better than none, a custom guard will work much better than any cheap, over the counter night guard.

Q: How Can a Bruxism Habit be Broken?

There are a number of methods that can be used in order to treat bruxism and your dentist will be an integral source to help you find out which method may be right for you. There are certainly natural treatments that many people use successfully, like biofeedback, but there are also treatments like exercises and even obstructing the nose, which forces sufferers to breathe through their mouths. You should make sure, however, that you are working with a dentist or doctor before attempting any of these. Once you have discovered the cause and broken the habit, bruxing should be a thing of the past.

Q: How Can Bruxism Stopped Naturally?

Many people who grind or clench their teeth are very interested in stopping the condition naturally. One way that you can do this is with biofeedback. One product that is quite popular is the biofeedback headband, that can be worn to bed. Sensors in the headband can pick up the grinding movement and alert you with a sound when you begin grinding. The thought here is that your body will re-train itself to be a non-grinder based on this feedback.

A similar method is to simply have your sleeping partner wake you when they hear you grind, but this may not be fully effective unless they are woken each time.

Q: How Can I Stop Bruxism with Exercise?

You may also be able to cure your bruxism with exercise. There are a number of exercises that can be done in an effort to ease the condition:

Tongue Exercises – Specific for those with daytime bruxing, replacing the grinding with another habit can be quite effective. For instance, place the tongue directly behind the front teeth at the roof of the mouth. This will prevent your jaw from clenching or grinding.
Jaw Exercises – Another exercise you can do is exercise your jaw. Since a lot of bruxing is caused by a cramped jaw, forcing a yawn several times a day can help to loosen it up. If this doesn’t work, massaging with the thumb, massaging with aromatic oil or placing a warm compress on your jaw joint can also help.

Further bruxism exercises can also be found online.

Q: How Can I Stop Bruxism at Night?

Though the above methods can work with daytime bruxing, you likely also do it at night, so you will need some type of device, like the biofeedback headband. Another tool that you can use is a taste based method. With this method, a form of biofeedback, a person will insert a small device in the mouth that fits over the teeth. When grinding begins, a foul tasting substance, like hot pepper sauce, will be released, signaling to stop grinding or clenching. You can also see your dentist for a device known as the NTI-TSS or NTI Tension Suppression System. This system will fit over the two front teeth and prevent them from touching the bottom teeth, additionally decreasing muscle tension.

If you suffer from bruxism and you are seeking out a cure, your first stop should be to see your dentist. They will be able to assess the damage that has been done and can fit you with a mouth guard that can be used to prevent further harm. At that point, other methods of treatment can be explored.

Christopher

Christopher has been writing professionally for 17 years. He specializes in health and dentistry. He has written extensively on bruxism, mouth guards and alternative approaches.