Teeth grinding can be a nightmare for your teeth and jaws. The grinding can end up grinding down your teeth and the enamel on your teeth and can lead to issues with eating and chewing where your teeth don't match up quite right any longer. You may also end up with jaw problems, including temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). This is an issue that affects your jaw and can leave you with pain in your jaw, as well as stiffness or even issues with opening and closing your mouth properly. If you grind your teeth, it's a problem and one that needs to be addressed. Read on for reasons why you may do it and what you can do about it.

Why You Grind Your Teeth

You may grind your teeth because of a few different things, including from stress or from too much caffeine. Stress can cause all types of bodily harm, and your teeth are one thing that can be affected. Stress from your job, from relationships or from day-to-day life may be causing you to grind your teeth without realizing you do it. You may even do it throughout the night or while you're in a meeting without noticing that you're doing it at all. 

Caffeine can also be a cause of teeth grinding. If you drink a lot of caffeine, your mind may be racing and you may be a lot more fidgety. You may grind your teeth or move your jaw back and forth as the caffeine kicks in. Limit the amount of caffeine you drink and see if this makes a difference in your grinding.

What You Can Do About It

Teeth grinding can be prevented by wearing a mouth guard at night, when you may do it most often. You can wear one during the day if need be as well, but it can be difficult to do things throughout the day with a mouthguard in your mouth. You should limit caffeine and stay away from anything else that may cause your heart to race or you to fidget. You should also do things to ease your stress such as reading a book, doing yoga or taking on less at work. 

If you suspect that you grind your teeth, you should make an appointment with your dentist to have a thorough exam and to discuss your teeth grinding. Your dentist can come up with a treatment plan that works for you.

To learn more, contact a family dental clinic.