Grind Your Teeth? What You Can Do To Protect Your Teeth
Posted on: 25 August 2021
If you're a teeth grinder, you probably have pain in your jaw often, in addition to your teeth being ground down, especially in your molars. You may even have worn down the enamel so much that you now experience issues with chewing your food because of the way your teeth meet together. If you grind your teeth often, there are several things you can do to help protect your teeth and prevent you from causing any further damage. Read on for tips to help protect your teeth.
Wear A Mouth Protector
By wearing a mouth protector or a mouth guard, you can protect your teeth from getting damaged any further and prevent wearing down your enamel. This can help if you are someone that clenches their teeth as well. The guard is made of a thick rubber or plastic that fits around your teeth and works as a barrier to protect your teeth when you grind them. Although the guard can protect your teeth, if you continue to grind while wearing the guard, you can still damage the muscles in your jaw. The protector only acts to protect your teeth.
Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine can increase your anxiety levels, which may be the cause of your teeth grinding in the first place. So be sure to avoid caffeine to help calm your nerves. If you drink a lot of caffeine, you may need to limit your caffeinated beverages or cut them out altogether if you can. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, energy drinks, and in sodas, in addition to foods such as chocolate. Caffeine is also not good for your teeth, so you should limit your overall caffeine intake just to help keep your teeth healthy.
Get Your Stress Levels Under Control
Get your stress levels under control. If you are under a lot of stress, you need to do what you can to control it. Whether it's taking on fewer projects, taking a step back at work, or asking for help at home, you need to get it under control. High stress can take a toll on your entire body, not just your teeth.
If you are grinding your teeth a lot, your teeth are more than likely becoming irreversibly damaged from this constant movement. Talk to your dentist about what else you can do to protect your teeth from the damage that can be caused by tooth grinding. Talk to a local general dentist to learn more about ways to stop grinding your teeth.
Share