Common Risk Factors And Causes Of Teeth Grinding

Repetitive Strain

Repetitive strain on the jaw can cause teeth grinding. Many different things can cause repetitive strain, from stress to old injuries. When individuals are experiencing this kind of strain, their dentist will most likely use a mouth guard to reduce the friction of their teeth grinding against each other. Patients can also avoid drinks and foods with a high caffeine content, as these tend to make stress levels and grinding worse. Alcohol also often makes grinding more intense. Individuals should avoid chewing on pens, pencils, and anything other than food. Even chewing gum might make them more likely to strain their jaw and grind their teeth. At night, individuals should practice relaxing the muscles in their jaw before they go to sleep.

Learn more about the causes of teeth grinding now.