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TEETH GRINDING WAKES THE HOUSE
Dear Les,
My roommate and even other people who live in my house say they wake up in the middle of the night and sometimes get frightened because I grind my teeth when I sleep. I am sleeping so I don’t know that I’m grinding my teeth, but I have no reason to doubt them because I am stressed and know that stress causes people to grind their teeth. Are there any stress reduction techniques that are good for this?
Grinder
Greetings Grinder,
Stress may be causing your teeth to go bump in the night, known as sleep bruxism. We can’t say for sure that stress is to blame because not everyone who’s stressed grinds their teeth, and not everyone who grinds their teeth is stressed. We do know that this common sleep disorder can sometimes damage teeth and tissue, cause morning head and jaw aches, and yes, scare and keep others wide awake thanks to jaw clenching and teeth gnashing that can go on for many minutes per hour.
Researchers are looking at other possible explanations for teeth grinding including hormone and nervous system triggers not directly related to a rough day at school or the office. Whatever the root causes of teeth grinding, studies do suggest that it is set off or made worse by stress, anxiety, smoking, alcohol and caffeine.
As far as specific stress reduction techniques for preventing or minimizing bruxism episodes, consider strategies discussed and demonstrated on this site including The Tranquilizer (progressive muscular relaxation) in the relax now! section. On the pharmaceutical and device side, nighttime mouth guards are used by lots of grinders to monitor and prevent damage and pain. Anti-anxiety medication, acupuncture and biofeedback have also taken a bite out of bruxism for some sufferers.
Dentists and other healthcare providers should be able to help you sort through these and other possible remedies, a combination of which may bring relief to you and those sleeping nearby.
Les
3/08
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