Dentists Agree: Tooth Grinding is a Problem

 Depending on the forcefulness, it can actually cause jaw issues as well.

If you think you might be grinding your teeth, there are a few symptoms that you’ll want to be on the lookout for. Chief among them are any visible problems with the upper surface of your teeth. Dentists can see these problems easily when you go in for an examination.

If you haven’t been in a while, make an appointment. You can get your teeth cleaned and examined in the same appointment and possibly get some confirmation on whether or not you have a grinding problem. Other issues such as hot and cold sensitivity, headaches in the morning, and tooth pain can all be signs of irregular grinding.

One of the primary causes behind grinding is a buildup of stress. This manifests itself when you’re asleep. There are plenty of ways to get rid of stress. Look to mediation and deep breathing as ways to calm down after a day at work. Some people even prefer to work on these as they wake up in the morning, believing that it helps them to center themselves and have patience as the day wears on.

Nothing can relieve stress better than some good old fashioned exercise. The human body, evolutionarily speaking, wasn’t meant to sit behind a desk for eight hours a day only to come home and sit behind another desk. It was meant to be out hunting and working hard. You have to incorporate vigorous exercise to make up for that deficiency that comes along with modern life.

Changing your diet can have a dramatic effect on tooth grinding as well. In particular, watch your caffeine and sugar intake. These substances can keep your body wired at night, even if you manage to fall asleep. Combine that with the fact that dentists strongly advocate limiting sugar in the first place and you have all the information you need to make dietary changes. If you have other questions about what foods you should eliminate, see your dentist and tell him that you’d like to make some changes for the better.