Reduce Tooth Grinding (Bruxism) The Natural Way

Many people have a somewhat embarrassing problem that is not always discussed: tooth grinding. Tooth grinding, teeth gnashing and clenching are common problems that most people do not talk about.

All of these problems are described medically by the term Bruxism. Many health professionals believe that bruxism is caused by emotional reasons.

Many doctors believe that simply being aware of tooth grinding is enough to be able to control it. Many health professionals also believe that tooth grinding is the result of stress. Many people begin to grind their teeth when they are stressed out, and some may not even be aware that they are doing it.

However, once you realize that you are grinding your teeth, that is the first step to taking control of your teeth and the stress that the problem probably stems from.

Many people find that their worst tooth grinding occurs at night. Many health professionals believe that tooth grinding occurs as your subconscious attempts to "chew over" your problems. Tooth grinding is a serious problem that can result in a nightmare scenario for your mouth.

That is why it is so important to get at the root of the problem. What can happen after a lifetime of continued tooth grinding? You can easily wear down your gum and jawbone from excessive tooth grinding. This can cause many of your teeth to become loose and to eventually break off. Even if you are lucky enough not to ruin your teeth through excessive tooth grinding, you can cause significant pain to your neck, face and head.

If you know that you are grinding your teeth, and you think it may be as a result of stress, there are many things you can do to try to relax. One of the best ways to make sure that your night doesn’t turn into a full-out tooth grinding session is to make sure that you get relaxed for bedtime.

To help prevent serious tooth grinding while you sleep, make sure that you do not do anything stressful even thirty minutes before bedtime. Many naturopathic doctors recommend that you should listen to soft music or take a warm bath (or both) before bedtime in order to relax. If you are able to sink into a relaxing and restful sleep, there is much less chance that you will end up grinding those pearly whites all night.  

An Interesting Herb Fact

Some of the best calming herbs are Chamomile, Hops, Skullcap and Valerian. All of these herbs have relaxing properties that are known to help reduce anxiety and can help you sink into a deeper sleep. When you allow your body to fall under the effect of these relaxing herbs, you are more likely to restrain from tooth grinding at night as you sleep. For even better results, you should consider taking any of these herbs in tincture form.

Honeysuckle is one of the oldest medicinal herbs in known history, sometimes referred to as Woodbine. European Honeysuckle was once used widely to treat urinary complaints, asthma, and during childbirth

Take any of these herbs in tincture form before falling going to bed to fall into a relaxing and restful sleep. For the best results, mix one to two ounces of any of these herbal tinctures into hot water. Tinctures are more powerful than hot teas.

They are more concentrated and can help you fall into a deeper and more restful sleep. Also, the body more readily absorbs tinctures. For the most restful sleep, take the herbal tincture at least a half hour before retiring to bed for the night.