Bruxism is the habitual or involuntary grinding of the teeth. It typically occurs during sleep (sleep bruxism), but there is also awake bruxism. Approximately 45 million people in the US are “bruxers.”
How to know if you grind your teeth while sleeping? Dull headaches and a sore jaw in the morning are the most common symptoms. Yet, the majority of people find out this by their sleep partners. The cause is still not completely clear, but many experts blame anxiety and excessive stress for this disorder. Although it’s usually not harmful to health, teeth grinding is very annoying at night. Heavy grinding of teeth sometimes has serious social and medical consequences. Teeth grinding can present a big problem if it happens too often and if it’s too loud. This irritating sound can disrupt sleep of your bed partner. It not only disrupts your sleep patterns but also triggers other heath issues. A poor sleep can result in chronic fatigue for you and a person who shares a bed or room with you.
As for the treatment, it often refers to treating stress and anxiety. Preventing and treating dental problems could also be a solution for some people. You do not always have to take drastic measures or fancy medications to stop this disorder. Consider using the following 5 natural home remedies instead.
1. Massage
Gently massage for a couple of minutes before bed could be helpful. Massage the muscles of your face, neck, and shoulders in a circular motion. That relieves the tension of the masticatory muscles and alleviates pain. You can also apply a full-body stress management massage.
2. Warm Compress
This involves applying of moist heat on the sore areas of the jaw. Heat will make your jaw less tense and relax the mouth muscles as well.
Soak up a washcloth with hot water and squeeze it to get rid of the excess water. Then, hold the washcloth around your jaw for a while. Make sure to do this at least twice daily.
You can also take a warm bath for a ten minutes before sleeping.
3. Valerian
Valerian can also relax the muscles and thus help you become less tense during sleep. Deep sleep has a good influence on teeth grinding.
Make a blend of olive oil and a few drops of valerian essential oil in a teaspoon. Massage your neck and jaw areas with that mixture. For best results, you should also drink valerian tea on a daily basis.
4. Turmeric Milk
When combined together, milk and turmeric can stop or reduce teeth grinding in a natural way. Calcium and amino acid tryptophan in milk help you relax and have a deep sleep. By adding turmeric into milk, you can make a beneficial natural remedy. It relieves pain and helps with teeth grinding.
Heat one cup of milk. When the milk starts to boil, add one tablespoon of honey and one teaspoon of turmeric powder to it. Drink this mixture about 30 minutes before you go to bed every single day.
5. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is necessary for our body to create dopamine neurotransmitter. It regulates mood and plays an important role in the brain. Besides, vitamin C plays several important roles in controlling smooth muscles.
Eat foods that are rich in Vitamin C, such as broccoli, kiwifruit, yellow bell peppers, and dark green leafy vegetables. Otherwise, you can take vitamin C supplements but first, consult your doctor. That can help you reduce stress and improve mood, which stops teeth grinding.
There are also many other natural home remedies for teeth grinding. Those include Valerian, herbal tea, Calcium and Magnesium supplements. Physical and jaw exercises can also help stop teeth grinding in easier cases. In severe cases, there are various protective dental appliances and mouth guards. Yet, you should try out natural remedies in the first instance and prevent further complications.
Khalid Irfan is a Fitness expert who enjoys spending time in gym. He also enjoys being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise as well as researching new topics to expand his horizons.