How Do I Stop?
To begin with – cognitive therapy. All this means is that you need to become aware of when your bruxism is occuring – during your waking hours or while sleeping.
If your bruxism is active while sleeping, your dentist can create a custom-made bite guard of hard material that will protect your upper teeth from your lower teeth.You can wear out the guard instead of your teeth.
NOTE: If the guard is therapeutically designed it will also relax your facial muscles and guide you into a more appropriate bite.
Beware of the boil and bite sports guards sold at the sporting goods stores. They are not for night grinders. The soft material actually promotes muscle activity.
Likewise, beware of the internet specials. You want a hard custom made mouth piece that will relax your muscles and keep the upper teeth from touching the lowers.
During waking hours, avoid tooth contact except when chewing or swallowing. Eat softer foods and don’t chew gum.
Avoid opening wide to eat. Minimize or eliminate caffeine, a stimulant, found in coffee, colas and chocolate.
Stay hydrated with water and get plenty of rest and sleep. Minimize or eliminate alcohol consumption.
For muscle or joint soreness apply warm, moist heat or ice to the muscles and joints. Either the heat or the cold can have a beneficial effect. Massaging these same areas can be effective.
Anti-inflammatory medications can help. Try Motrin or Advil. The severity and intensity of the bruxism and the resulting soreness or pain will dictate the duration of medication.
Other treatment options include behavior modification such as stress management and relaxation therapy. Bio-feedback has also helped some people and physical therapy to learn proper jaw function and to help unlearn some destructive bruxing habits.
Professional massage therapy of the face, neck, shoulders and back can be very helpful, at least on a temporary basis.
For more severe situation, your dentist may utilize a prescription for muscle relaxation medication.
A combination of several of the fore going suggestions is often utilized to help stop or at least control the bruxism and its effects.
Yours for better dental health,
Charles Briscoe, DDS
