Many people clench or grind their teeth while they are awake and while they are asleep. Of course, if you do this while you are awake, you can stop doing it because you are aware of what you are doing. But what do you do if you are asleep? For a lot of people that grind or clench their teeth at night they are unaware that they are doing it. If you are unaware of this then how do you stop it, and what causes this behavior to begin with.

Managing Stress

These days there a lot of stressors out there. It could be your job, or lack of one. You could have medical issues that cause you stress or perhaps a family member has a problem that causes you to worry about them. School and debt can also cause you to feel pushed against a wall and it may manifest itself by clenching or grinding your teeth. You can't very well walk around shouting to relieve your stress now can you? Fortunately, there are a many different ways to manage your stress, which, in turn, should reduce the clenching and grinding of your teeth.

One of the easiest ways to relieve stress is to take deep breaths. Breathing in slowly and slowly releasing the air you breathed can slow down your heart rate and slow you down too. Sometimes your job can get so hectic you find yourself moving at the same pace in your personal life too. When things start getting crazy at work, at home or at school, find yourself a quiet place, close your eyes and take slow, deep breaths.

Exercise is another way to manage stress. Exercising releases endorphins that are your body's feel-good chemical. In addition, it is healthy for you and will make you look better. When you look good, you feel good.

If none of this helps, talk to your dentist. He can customize a bite guard that you can wear at night to protect your teeth from grinding and clenching. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at (928) 277-0076.