How to Stop Grinding Teeth in Sleep Naturally

Many people have the problem of bruxism. Why do i grind my teeth, is the common question asked by them. This conditions affects more than 10 million people across globe. It is common among kids and toddlers too. Not just your child even adults grind their teeth at night. Because grinding occurs during sleep many people don’t even know if they are suffering from bruxism or not. However, there are some tricks and tips along with home remedies to help you stop grinding teeth in sleep naturally.

It is not caused by any medical condition. According to some studies, grinding your teeth is caused due to psychological conditions. Stress and anxiety are among the most common reasons why you keep moving your jaw at night. Such habit/problem can cause toothache, jaw pain, sensitivity, receding gums and cuts inside of your cheek.
Emotional stress is common among people who grind their teeth at night. Many research claims that emotional break down or work overload gives passive stress during night and causes repetitive grinding or clenching teeth(1).

Home Remedies To Stop Grinding Teeth while sleeping

1. Valerian Root

It is one of the common folks medicine used as sedative. Valerian root has been used for getting quality sleep without having any side-effects. According to one study performed by University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, regular consumption of Valerian roots can improve sleepiness. Study, found that regular intake of 800 mg of Valerian for 8 weeks improved restless leg syndrome. It is another form of sleep disorder caused by anxiety and stress(2).
How to stop grinding teeth with Valerian root:

• Pour one cup of water in a saucepan.
• Add handful of dried Valerian roots.
• Bring water to boil and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
• Strain it over a new cup and collect the water.
• Drink this herbal tea 1 hour before going to bed daily.

2. Warm Compress to Stop Grinding Teeth

Tired jaw is another major causes why you grind your teeth at night. People who chew gums most of the time are having strained jaw muscles. As a result, when you sleep, your mind reflex the behavior when your are unconscious. Warm compress can help you stop teeth grinding naturally.
How to use:

• Take one bowl of hot water.
• Soak a piece of cloth and squeeze out excess water.
• Place it over your jaw line and keep it for 5 minutes.
• Repeat the warm compress 3 times a day.
• If you have seen your baby grinding teeth at night then warm compress is safe treatment for them.

3. Turmeric Milk to Stop Teeth Grinding

Turmeric is one of the best natural anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant. When combined with milk it can stop teeth grinding naturally by inducing quality sleep. Milk will add its calcium and sedative enzyme called tryptophan. It is natural relaxant which can help you get sound sleep. Turmeric milk is also beneficial for improving immune system and eliminate allergies.
How to use:

• Take one glass of warm skimmed milk.
• Add 1 tablespoon of roasted turmeric powder.
• Stir well to dissolve turmeric completely.
• Drink this 1 hour before sleeping.
• Do this for 2-4 weeks to observe noticeable changes.

4. Massage to Stop Grinding Teeth in babies

Relaxing your muscle fibers by massaging them before going to sleep can help you stop grinding teeth at night naturally. Massage relieve stress and spasm from your jaw line and provide relief from pain. Constant chewing food or gum can lead to weak tooth and aches. By reducing tension among muscle fibers, it can help inhibit unconscious jaw clenching.
How to massage:

• Take one bowl of warm water. Make sure they are not too hot.
• Rinse your face with this warm water.
• Pat dry and gently massage your face, neck, and shoulder in circular motion for 5 minutes.
• Do this 1 hour before going to bed.

5. Stress Management

When you are going through lots of stress or anxiety, grinding your teeth in sleep is common. There is no mental disorder, you just need to learn the art of managing your stress.
Both babies and adults should learn how to relax and prevent unwanted discomfort. Mouth exercises and yoga are one of the most effective way to reduce mental stress.
Here we have already covered various yoga poses to get mental stress free life. You can follow them and incorporate them according to your lifestyle.

6. Vitamin C to Stop Grinding Teeth

Increasing the intake of Vitamin C can help you detox your body from free radical. They are one of the common reason why you can’t sleep well without clenching your teeth or having shaking leg syndrome.
Vitamin C is effective in stimulating our adrenal glands. Adrenal is the enzyme which invokes exciting feelings. When you run, play sports, or have panic attack adrenal plays an active role in all of them.
How to use:

• Take 3 normal size lemon and cut them in half.
• Squeeze out juice from all three and mix them in one glass of water.
• Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
• Drink this early morning on empty stomach.
• Do this for several weeks to stop clenching and grinding your teeth.

7. Vitamin B-Complex

People suffering from deficiency of any vitamin B are more prone to mental stress. They even suffer from frequent emotional breakdowns. As a result your sleep is disturbed and you might rub your teeth together at night without even knowing it.

Healthy amount of vitamin B complex improves mood and reduces mood swings. It even protects you from bery-bery disease.
How much to take:
RDA approved dosage list below(3):
Pediatric:

1. Newborn – 6 month old baby : 1.7 mg
2. Infants 7 month – 1 year : 1.8 mg
3. Children 1 – 3 years : 2 mg
4. Children 4 – 8 years : 3 mg
5. Kids 9 – 13 years : 4 mg
6. Teens 14 – 18 years : 5 mg

Adult:

1. 19 years and above : 5 mg
2. Pregnant Women : 6 mg
3. Breastfeeding Mother : 7 mg

8. Magnesium

Magnesium is essential mineral required for proper functioning of our body. Its deficiency can cause stress, restless sleep, anxiety, morning sickness and uncommon behavioral changes.
Teeth grinding can be stopped by increasing magnesium intake up-to healthy levels. You can find magnesium supplements in medical stores. Ask your doctor to do a complete check up of your body and focus more on magnesium and calcium deficiency.
How to use:

• You can also make smoothie with magnesium rich food.
• Take 2 avocado, 2 banana and 1 scoop of yogurt.
• Put them in blender and blend for 5 minutes.
• Drink this smoothie twice a day.

9. Lavender

Lavender has soothing effect on our nervous system. It acts as natural calming agent and relaxes your body reflex. Such improvement can provide you sound sleep.
Along with lavender you can also intake herbal tea to get better sleep.
How to use:

• Take 1 tablespoon of warm lavender oil.
• Put few drops on back of your neck and gently massage the area for 5 minutes.
• Take few drops in your palm and rub it together 20 times.
• Place it over your jaw and massage in circular motion.
• Do this daily for better results.

Conventional Treatment To Stop Teeth Grinding in Babies and Adults

1. Mouth Guard for teeth grinding

You might have probably heard about teeth guard used by athletes to protect their mouth from physical damages. Similar mouth guard is used to help you stop damaging your teeth by grinding at night.
They are custom-made by dentist according to your teeth print to keep them separate while sleeping. However, free size mouth guards are available at Walmart. You can get your mouth size checked at any dentist and look for it in Walmart or other conventional stores.

2. Antidepressant Pills

If stress management is not working on its own then you can contact your doctor and ask for antidepressant pills. They will help you to fight back depression.
Depressed mind can’t fall asleep naturally and causes unwanted movements.
If you are suffering from high cholesterol or diabetes make sure that taking antidepressant pills won’t escalate the situation.

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Q1. What causes teeth grinding

Ans. Bruxism is the medical term for it and they are of two type. First one is called “Awake Bruxism”, when you clench your teeth and grind due to anger or other reason while being conscious is called Awake Bruxim. Second type is when you clench or grind your teeth at nigh,t is called sleep bruxism(4).
Ever wondered Why do people grind their teeth, Adults suffering from restless leg syndrome or sleep walking are more vulnerable to bruxism. Stress and anxiety is  common among adults due to lots of responsibility and work load.

Q2. Why do kids grind their teeth

Ans. Ok adults have stress and anxiety but why kids are walking the same road? According to one study 20-30 percent of kids grind their teeth at night(5). Most of them are doing it because of unaligned teeth.
Such sleep disorder in kids and teens must be taken seriously as this can become habit out of medical condition. So talk to dentist and use braces if required. Causes of baby grinding teeth is still unknown and we could not find any research backing definite claims. However, empty stomach and hunger are most believed reasons.

Now you know, why do people grind their teeth in their sleep. So use simple natural home remedies to stop teeth grinding at night and use conventional practice like mouth guard for best results.

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