Can teeth grinding (bruxism) be prevented?

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can sometimes be prevented. That's because teeth grinding is not only caused by stress or anxiety but can also be caused by sleep disorders, an abnormal bite or teeth that are missing or crooked.

Your dentist can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during sleep. In some cases, your dentist or physician may recommend taking a muscle relaxant before bedtime. If stress is the cause you need to find a way to relax. Meditation, counseling and exercise can all help reduce stress and anxiety.

It's possible to learn how to prevent teeth grinding (or bruxism), but it's not always easy. Both children and adults can grind their teeth while they're asleep, and are often not aware they're doing so until their dentist notices teeth that show wear from grinding.

Stress is often a cause of teeth grinding, so learning new ways to relax, especially before bedtime, may help. Behavioral approaches, including biofeedback, can be useful to train yourself not to grind your teeth.

Meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and exercise may also help reduce stress. Your dentist can make a custom-fitted mouth guard, which you wear at night to prevent teeth grinding.

Teeth grinding can be prevented by following many of the recommended treatment options. Stress is considered to be a possible cause for teeth grinding. Learning to manage stress may help prevent this disorder. Biofeedback (a way to train your body to notice stress and then cope with it) helps you learn to manage anxiety and stress. Learning relaxation techniques may also help prevent teeth grinding.