Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, is one of the most damaging dental disorders that commonly occurs when a person grinds or clenches their teeth together. Most of the time it occurs at night while you are sleeping or subconsciously while awake. You may be dealing with Bruxism if you’ve ever experienced sore teeth, earaches but no infection, lasting facial pain, tight jaw muscles, and/or headaches.
While Bruxism does have many effective treatments, you may be interested in attempting to relieve symptoms or lessen the grinding naturally. Some of the best ways to alleviate teeth grinding involve reducing stress so that you and your body can relax. Below are a few natural suggestions to try while advancing through treatments with Dr. Baier.
Drink tea in the evening. A warm herbal, valerian, or chamomile tea is great for calming anxiety or worry before bed.
Valerian. The natural muscle relaxing properties of Valerian can help you relax and enjoy a deep sleep. One suggestion is to mix a few drops of Valerian essential oil with one teaspoon of olive oil and massage this onto your affected jaw and neck area.
Lavender. With a naturally calming and soothing effect on your nervous system, lavender can help induce relaxation and aid in better sleep. Suggestions for use include infused tea, essential oil infusers in your home, and massage oils.
Exercise regularly. By establishing an active routine, you can help your bodily systems working smoothly while simultaneously relieving stress.
Take a warm shower or bath before sleep. By creating the feeling of floating and overall warmth, you can help release tensions in your body and relax your muscles.
Warm Compress. Apply moist heat twice daily to the jaw to relax the jaw and muscles and prevent teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
Massage. Gentle circular massage of the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and face can help relieve tension in the masticatory muscles. A full-body stress-management massage will also be beneficial as stress is usually the main cause of teeth grinding. For additional relief, include lavender or valerian in your massage oil.
Turmeric Milk. Milk has the amino acid tryptophan, which helps you relax and enjoy a deeper sleep as well as calcium to help keep your teeth healthy. Combine Turmeric for it’s natural medicinal qualities with milk to help control the problem of teeth grinding & pain. Make sure to drink it about 30 minutes before going to bed and prior to brushing your teeth.
Hopefully one or a combination of these natural remedies help to relieve your Bruxism or the side effects. However, if you do continue to have problems with teeth grinding, please make sure to schedule a consultation with your dentist, Dr. Baier, or another specialist as soon as possible. It is always best to prevent tooth wear and further dental problems as soon as possible. There are many effective dental care options for resolving your teeth grinding as well as treatments to restore your smile to its brightest.
