Do you grind your teeth at night? - THESE COULD BE THE CAUSES

Do you grind your teeth at night? Teeth grinding, or bruxism as it is medically called, can be a symptom of many different underlying medical conditions and make life difficult for sufferers. If left untreated, grinding can lead to tension in the jaw joint and cause pain.

If you have been grinding your teeth for more than two weeks and your daily life is affected, you should see a doctor to find out the exact cause of your teeth grinding. To help you understand what can cause teeth grinding, in this post we discuss some possible causes of teeth grinding that you may not have thought of yet!

Possible causes of teeth grinding

These are just some of the many causes of teeth grinding. To find the exact cause of teeth grinding, you should be examined by your dentist and a physiotherapist. If left untreated, teeth grinding can cause serious damage to your teeth and lead to tension and pain. 

What can you do about teeth grinding?

Pay attention to the position of your teeth. Your teeth should only lie on top of each other when necessary - for example when chewing or swallowing. To ensure this, you can do loosening exercises. To do this, open your mouth wide and close it again. Only your lips should touch each other.

Avoid stress. Treat yourself to a warm bath or just some quiet time on the sofa. Also say no sometimes to avoid stress - because when you are stressed, your body is under tension and this can be a trigger for teeth grinding.

Avoid sleeping on your back. Teeth grinding is more common when lying on your back or in a position where your head is turned to the right side and less common when lying with your head facing forward. Lying on your stomach also reduces teeth grinding as it means that the two cheek muscles do not have to work as hard.

Get checked by a dentist and a physiotherapist

If you continue to grind your teeth, you should definitely seek help to avoid pain. For example, your dentist can make you a dental splint. This splint prevents you from grinding your teeth together at night. In our physiotherapy practice , I can help you to relieve the tension in your jaw and loosen your jaw muscles. This can also help prevent teeth grinding and relieve pain. 

Do you have any questions or would you like to do something about your teeth grinding ? Then feel free to call or make an appointment directly at our physiotherapy practice. I will be happy to help you.

Your Benjamin Körtner