Many things can cause teeth clenching

When you go to bed at night you expect to wake up rested. If you clench your teeth while you sleep you wake still tired. Clenching your jaw can cause other health issues including problems with your enamel, teeth, and other parts in or surrounding your mouth. Seeing a dentist if you think you may be clenching your teeth could help rectify or avoid these problems by helping you stop teeth grinding.

Many things can cause teeth clenching. After a series of health questions, the dentist will determine the cause and begin treatment. Most often the cause is stress. If it is determined that this is the cause of your teeth grinding the dentist will refer you to a therapist or a clinic of behavioral therapy. The therapist (psychiatrist) will teach you to manage stress better. He or she may tell you to try exercise or meditation to relax.

At a clinic for behavioral therapy, the person working with you will teach the correct positioning of your mouth and jaw. You will learn this through concentration exercises. Occasionally, the clinic will use alternative medicine to help achieve your goal to stop grinding teeth.

Sometimes, the dentist will choose to treat you with a night guard. The night guard can be purchased in a pharmacy or designed special for your perfect fit. Other times he or she may decide you need crowns to help correct the alignment of your teeth. Rarely more extensive dental work is needed. These methods are used to treat clenching teeth caused by the teeth not aligning properly. Another option is muscle relaxers before bed.

Problems caused by grinding or clenching teeth can be avoided if professional help is sought. The many treatments available can improve overall mouth health.

For this reason a dentist should be consulted if you believe there is a chance that you grind your teeth.