3 Tips to Relax Your Jaw Muscles

If you know the word bruxism, it might be because you or someone you know has it. When you clench your teeth at night, usually from stress, it can have a truly irreversible impact on the health of your teeth. Below, we’ll look at how this phenomenon works and what you can do to relax.

How Bruxism Works

Teeth clenching is not like snoring; it may not easily wake you or your loved ones up. You may even feel like you slept fine, even when you were clenching your teeth all day. To make matters worse, you may be doing a lot of jaw-clenching during the day — even when you don’t realize it.

How to Relax Your Jaw

The best way to combat jaw clenching in Beavercreek, OH, during the day is to make an active effort to relax:

• Gentle exercise: We recommend gently opening and closing your jaw and sliding it slowly from side to side and front to back.
• Mindfulness: From deep breathing to meditation, this can help you pry your jaws apart.
• Lifestyle: Warm compresses, better posture, and physical therapy may all help you relax.

The key is to give yourself a break throughout the day. Jaw clenching often goes entirely unnoticed when you’re stressed, so it helps to take a step back.

See a Dentist in Beavercreek, OH

Relaxing during the day may also help you relax at night, but ending long-term bruxism typically takes more time. If you’re looking for an interim solution, the right dentist in Beavercreek, OH can tell you more about how bruxism impacts your oral health and how you can protect your teeth while you sleep.