Back when I was growing up, my sister always complained that she could hear me grinding my teeth while I slept. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t until I was in college that I took any action, getting fitted for a mouthguard by my dentist. He pointed out that a lot of my molars were worn down due to my nighttime habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is actually pretty common, affecting up to 16% of the adult population. [1]<\/sup> \u201cBruxism is a nonfunctional grinding of one\u2019s teeth that does not involve chewing,\u201d explains Bobbi Stanley<\/a>, DDS, a dentist based in Cary, N.C. \u201cWhile it can occur during the day, it is during sleep that teeth grinding does the most damage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you grind your teeth during sleep, you can easily exert up to 250 pounds of pressure<\/a>. \u201cTo put this in perspective, it takes approximately 30 pounds of pressure to bite through a raw carrot,\u201d says Stanley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Damage caused by bruxism goes beyond the kind of wear and tear that my molars displayed. It can also lead to chipped teeth, pain and sensitivity, and even a sore jaw or headache the next day. \u201cWhen enough of the tooth is worn away, procedures such as root canals, gum surgery, and crowns may be necessary,\u201d Stanley says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what can you do to keep your teeth in tip-top shape while you sleep\u2014and prevent waking up in pain? Here, learn about the most common causes of bruxism and get Stanley\u2019s tips for how to stop grinding your teeth at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experts aren\u2019t always sure why people grind their teeth, but these are some of the most common causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bruxism Association notes that close to 70% of teeth grinding is the result of stress or anxiety. [2]<\/sup> A study published in the journal Head & Face Medicine<\/em> found that shift workers who were stressed on the job were more likely to grind their teeth at night. [3]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain antidepressants<\/a>, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can cause bruxism, says Stanley. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association <\/em>notes that these meds suppress dopamine, the brain chemical that controls motor activity, leading to excessive jaw movement and clenching in some people. [4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have sleep apnea<\/a>, you\u2019re more likely to grind your teeth at night, says Stanley. Sleep apnea happens when the muscles in your throat relax, blocking your airway and causing you to stop breathing momentarily. [5] <\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine<\/em>, sleep apnea is often accompanied by snoring, gasping, mumbling, and teeth grinding. [6] <\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n The American Sleep Apnea Association points out that acid reflux may trigger bruxism. [7]<\/sup> When you have acid reflux, stomach acid creeps up into your esophagus, burning the tissues of your upper airway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your brain may signal your jaw to tense up in response, leading to grinding. (Here\u2019s how to keep acid reflux from ruining your sleep<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol<\/a> and tobacco mess with your dopamine levels, while caffeine stimulates muscle activity. [8, 9]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBruxism doesn\u2019t go away on its own,\u201d says Stanley. Addressing the root cause is key to managing the condition. Here are a few ways to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you\u2019re experiencing stress or anxiety, therapy and relaxation techniques like meditation<\/a> can ease your teeth-grinding habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf the cause is medication, sometimes it\u2019s possible for your physician to switch you to a different one,\u201d Stanley says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For sleep apnea or acid reflux, raising your head in bed, which you can do with an adjustable base<\/span>, can help mitigate symptoms.\u00a0[10]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n More severe cases of sleep apnea may require wearing a CPAP mask<\/a>. [11]<\/sup> You may also benefit from lifestyle changes, like cutting back on booze, coffee, and cigarettes. [12]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n A trip to the dentist is also in order. The dentist can make sure you don\u2019t do any more damage to your teeth by fitting you with a night guard, a custom-fitted plastic mouthpiece that goes over your top or bottom teeth. [13] <\/sup> <\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve been wearing a night guard for 10 years now, and while it\u2019s not my favorite accessory, my teeth\u2014and anyone who sleeps within earshot of me\u2014are certainly happier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it’s important to note that some studies say night guards may not actually improve bruxism. [14]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n To stop grinding your teeth in your sleep, you have to address the root cause, such as stress sleep apnea, or acid reflux. Wearing a custom night guard from a dentist can help protect teeth from further damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To protect your teeth from grinding at night, ask your dentist for a custom-fitted night guard. This plastic mouthpiece fits over your teeth to cushion and prevent wear. Additionally, managing stress, reducing caffeine and alcohol, and addressing issues like sleep apnea or acid reflux can help minimize grinding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Back when I was growing up, my sister always complained that she could hear me grinding my teeth while I slept. It wasn’t until I was in coll<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":60,"featured_media":25412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,398],"tags":[],"coauthors":[417],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-25411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-disorders-conditions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/60"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25411"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34124,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25411\/revisions\/34124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25411"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=25411"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=25411"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=25411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Causes of bruxism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stress and anxiety<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Antidepressants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sleep apnea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Acid reflux<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to stop grinding your teeth at night<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Relieve stress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Change medications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make lifestyle changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Invest in a night guard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do I stop grinding my teeth in my sleep?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do you protect your teeth from grinding at night?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n