Cases of bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding) are soaring in the UK (and globally), particularly amongst women. Experts say most cases are caused by stress — where women are struggling to juggle their careers, with family life and child care as well as looking after aging parents.
Sufferers are often high-flyers who may pride themselves on keeping everything running smoothly at home and in the office, but even they can’t control what happens when they sleep.
So how can you tell if you’re grinding at night?
Apart from the obvious – being told by your partner – experts suggest that people who are actively grinding will normally see a white horizontal line inside the cheeks, just adjacent to where the teeth meet. You may also see indentations on either side of the tongue. Eventually, worn teeth can become more sensitive, get sharp at the edges, chip and become shorter. Ultimately, the question remains: How do we stop something that we’re doing while we’re asleep?
If it’s stress related bruxism, you might think a relaxing glass of wine at the end of the night is the answer. Sadly not, alcohol is known to break up sleeping patterns. As is high caffeine intake and smoking.
Ways that you CAN treat bruxism, in addition to wearing a night guard such as the F.O.S. solution, are to ensure that you engage in relaxation activities such as exercise and meditation – both helpful at quelling stress and anxiety.
