Teeth Grinding- One Of The Cause Of Tmj Disorder!

By Author: Alex Bowmann
Total Articles: 79
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Rather than by physical problems, TMJ in these cases is considered to be caused by mental stress.

They may begin to unknowingly grind their teeth and clench their jaw, when a person is stressed-- and in order to control and remove the stress form his everyday life, the patient must undertake a number of specific steps. Most importantly, from grinding his teeth, the patient must also get a custom-made mouth guard which will prevent him and putting pressure on them, and to break this habit as well, this will help him.

To reduce the teeth grinding and jaw clenching which cause TMJ disorders, here are some detailed steps that you can take:
1. Adjusting the diet to help reduce stress: Lowering your stress levels and increasing your health, limiting the intake of caffeine, fast foods, sugar, processed foods, and frozen foods. Also, at bedtime, it may be helpful to take calcium 1200 mg and pantothenic acid 200 mg needs to be taken daily.

2. Stress reduction and relaxing techniques: In order to reduce stress, the techniques that are used are meditation, yoga, visualization techniques, and strenuous exercise. ...
... Stress management courses and professional counseling may be included in other techniques. Proven to be effective as well are acupuncture, massage, and biofeedback.
3. Sleep on the back: At night sleep on their side, studies have shown that a high percentage of those who clench their teeth. To reduce the habit of clenching their teeth at night, sleeping on the back has been shown.

4. Avoid taking antidepressants: With the mistaken belief that they will reduce stress and overall tension, these are often taken, and thereby reducing the TMJ teeth grinding. Studies have shown that they actually INCREASE nighttime incidences of teeth grinding significantly, although they may indeed reduce stress during the day, and when no other previous symptoms existed, have even been shown to cause cases of TMJ on their own. It is important to wear a custom made mouth guard at night, if these must be taken.

5. To avoid teeth grinding and jaw clenching during the day, the patient must make a conscious and deliberate effort as this will only make the TMJ disorder worse; the patient must take care to notice whenever he feels stress, frustration, anger, or tension, and check to see if the jaw or clenching of teeth in addition to eliminating stress. You may wish to wear a custom made mouth guard even during the day, if the problem is particularly severe, removed only when eating or when the patient must speak.

6. From a neuromuscular dentist, a custom made mouth guard: from a drugstore or online, the patient must purchase one that is custom made, and not a generic one.

Alex Bowmann is the author of this article. For further detail about clenching of teeth and teeth grinding please visit the website.