Are you wondering how to stop clenching jaw from stress? If you’re experiencing any issue with clenching your jaw, it may be due to stress. Clenching can add stress to your neck and head, which can lead to headaches, tension headaches, and other health problems.
To stop clenching your jaw from stressing you out, find ways to reduce the amount of stress you experience. Try some relaxation exercises or take time for yourself every day to relax. The purpose of this article is to help people understand how to stop clenching their jaws from stress.
That said, let’s get started.
How to Stop Clenching Jaw From Stress
your jaw can be harmful to your overall health, but there are ways to help stop the clench. Here are 3 tips to help you:
1. Wearing a bite splint nightguard may help
A bite splint or night guard is a type of mouthguard created to protect your teeth while you sleep, preventing pain or damage brought on by teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
It’s best to speak with your dentist first because you might require a particular type of mouthguard depending on the underlying cause of your condition.
2. Consider changing your diet
Eat softer foods to ease your muscles’ soreness and tightness in your jaw. As a result, the jaw is under less stress, which can help it heal. Tofu, yogurt, porridge, smoothies, and avocado are examples of soft foods.
3. Jaw and facial muscles exercises
Stretching the jaw joint and performing facial exercises can increase the range of motion and relieve jaw tension. Here are some workouts you can perform:
– Opening Jaw Manually: Warm up by repeatedly opening and closing your mouth slightly. After that, put your fingers on the tops of your front four bottom teeth and slowly pull down until you start to experience a little discomfort on the side of your jaw that is tight.
After 30 seconds, hold this position and slowly return your jaw to its original position. Work up to 12 repetitions of this stretch gradually by performing it three times.
– stretch Jaw joint: Try relaxing the jaw by resting the tip of your tongue behind the upper front teeth and lowering the bottom of the jaw so that the lower teeth move away from the upper teeth. This will help stretch and relieve muscle tightness of the jaw and neck.
– Smile stretch: Give the broadest smile you can manage without experiencing pain or tightness as you gaze into a mirror. Smiling while slowly opening your jaw an additional 5 cm, taking a deep breath in through your mouth, and letting the smile go.
Ten times through this process. This exercise aims to reduce stress in the jaw, neck, and facial muscles.
4. Get a massage
The jaw can benefit from massage to improve blood flow and ease tight muscles. Try opening your mouth and using gentle circular motions to rub the muscles on either side of your face next to your ears. Do this multiple times every day.
6 Possible Causes of Clenching Jaws
1. Tetanus
Tetanus is a highly contagious and deadly disease that can be caused by the bacteria tetanus. The disease is most commonly spread through contact with an injured or dead animal, but it can also be contracted through close personal relationships.
The most common symptom of tetanus is a series of sharp muscle aches and pains that may last for several days.
The toxin-producing bacterial infection tetanus causes painful muscle contractions in the neck, jaw, and abdomen as well as difficulty swallowing. If you think you might have tetanus, it is strongly advised that you get medical help right away.
2. Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety are among the most frequent causes of muscle tension and jaw clenching. When under stress, a person may clench their jaw or grind their teeth (bruxism) while awake or while sleeping.
This can eventually result in the tightening of the facial muscles or, worse, more severe dental issues like cracks, wear, and even tooth loss.
3. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
The most common cause of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD), which cause pain in the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles, is temporomandibular joint dysfunction. This specific joint gives you the mobility required to speak, yawn, and chew food.
TMD symptoms may include:
- headaches that don’t go away and “jaw popping”
- difficulty opening the jaw or chewing
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw, face, ear, or neck
4. Teeth grinding (Bruxism)
Rage, stress, anxiety, tension, depression, frustration, and sleep disorders are just a few of the many causes of teeth grinding. Heavy alcohol and caffeine use may also be connected to it.
People who snore, have sleep apnea, regularly smoke, drink alcohol, use recreational drugs, or regularly consume caffeine are more likely to experience bruxism, or teeth grinding.
5. Excessive chewing
Similar to any other joint or muscle in your body, overuse can result in some pain or discomfort and tightness in the jaw.
Symptoms of bruxism include:
- A headache, jaw pain, or sore facial muscles when you wake up
- Back teeth have a flat appearance or appear to have small “pot holes” on them.
- tooth sensitivity or pain when consuming hot and cold foods or beverages
Why It Is Important to Stop Clenching Your Jaw
When under stress, a person may clench their jaw or grind their teeth (Bruxism) While awake or while asleep. This can worsen over time and result in more severe dental issues like cracks, wear, and even tooth loss. It can also cause the facial muscles to become more tense.
How to Stop Clenching Jaw From Stress – Conclusion
It is important to remember that clenching your the jaw can lead to cracks, wear, and even tooth loss There are a few ways to prevent this from happening. The tips we’ve highlighted in this article are a great way to reduce the way clench your teeth.
However, if you’re non of the tips mentioned in this article, we advise you to talk to a local health professional for expert advice.