Professional dental care is always the gold
standard for any dental problem, but not everybody always has easy access to a
professional. Whether your state is under a stay-at-home order and only
emergency dental visits are allowed, or whether you lack transportation or
mobility, you may feel like you're out of options.
But unlike a tooth cavity, a bruxism problem
doesn't have just one solution. Professional treatments, home care, and other
factors can all contribute to lessening the issue. Discover some steps to take
for your bruxism if you can't get to the dentist in person anytime soon.
1. Look for Virtual
Dental Consult
In some cases, you may be able to consult your
dentist over the phone or via an online video meeting. This virtual consult
won't give your dentist the chance to physically perform work on your mouth.
However, you can discuss any symptoms you have and ask your dentist for
recommendations on how to manage any ongoing bruxism issues.
2. Get a Nightguard
You'll Use
Your dentist may recommend a nightguard for
nighttime grinding. In some cases, though, a patient may find a nightguard
difficult to use. This could be due to excessive bulkiness (especially if you
use an over-the-counter guard), or the nightguard may simply not fit any more.
For example, if you've had dental work done
recently, you may need refitting for a nightguard. Or if your case is severe,
your guard may be completely chewed through and need replacement.
Unfortunately, if you can't visit your dentist
in person, you won't be able to get your dentist to fit you for a new guard.
However, some alternatives exist, such as ordering a kit in the mail so you can
take an impression of your teeth and have a laboratory make the
professional-quality guard for you. Talk to your dentist about which options
may be best for you right now.
3. Check Out Your Jaw
Muscles
Your main clenching and grinding muscles
include masseter, pterygoid, and temporalis muscles. The masseter is located
alongside the back and side of your jaw (on both sides of your face) as
expected, with two sets of pterygoids beneath. The temporalis is in the temple
region, above your ear. These muscles may be tense and may benefit from some
gentle rubbing.
You may also hold tension in other muscles in
your head and neck region, depending on the extent and cause of your bruxism.
Talk to your dentist about whether some of the other muscles in your head and
neck area may need stretching or self-massaging as well and how this could
affect your clenching and grinding.
4. Examine Your Sleep
Hygiene
Sleep hygiene is a term that encompasses the
conditions in your sleeping area each night, your sleep schedule, the way you
prepare for sleep, and similar related issues. If you have poor sleep hygiene,
that doesn't mean bruxism is your fault. It could offer an opportunity to work
towards improved sleep hygiene, though, which can relieve symptoms in some
patients.
Check the recommendations of experts such as the National Sleep
Foundation for recommendations for better-quality sleep. Then experiment with incorporating
some of these to see if they help your bruxism. For example, some patients can
find some relief when they add a relaxing bedtime routine.
Relaxing routines could include indulging in a
warm bath just before bed, doing a few yoga stretches, or even doing just a
little deep breathing. Some people also try magnesium supplements. (Be sure to
consult with your doctor before adding any new supplements such as magnesium.)
These steps may help you to protect your teeth
against the effects of bruxism while you wait for your next opportunity to make
a dental appointment. Be sure to keep an eye on the state of your teeth as
well, though. In some cases, bruxism can cause chipped or even broken teeth. A
broken tooth can sometimes require an emergency dental appointment.
For more information on our services and
appointments, call the office of Michael G. Landy DDS today.
