Tooth Grinding
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Teeth Grinding Cures

| Modified on Jan 30, 2023
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While it may seem like a relatively mild condition, teeth grinding can actually cause serious health issues and should be treated as quickly as possible. In addition to dental treatment, you should also consider natural cures, such as vitamin B5, magnesium, and calcium.

What Causes Teeth Grinding?

Teeth grinding, or bruxism as it is called professionally, is a condition in which your grind, gnash or clench your teeth. Mayo Clinic suggests that the condition can be an unconscious clenching throughout the day or a subconscious grinding at night. In some cases, the grinding is mild and does not actually require treatment; however, in more severe cases, which are common, jaw disorders, headaches, and even damaged teeth are often the result.

While doctors don’t actually completely understand the condition or its cause, different physical and/or psychological issues may be to blame. Some of the most commonly suggested causes include anxiety, stress, suppressed anger, frustration, aggressive personality, abnormal alignment of your teeth, other sleep problems, pain from an earache, complication from other diseases or disorders, or even psychiatric medication.

How Do I Know If I Grind My Teeth?

Because teeth grinding often occurs at night, it can be difficult to identify. However, there are a number of factors that you can be aware of to help you determine whether you are grinding your teeth without knowing it. Common symptoms include worn or flattened teeth, worn tooth enamel, tooth sensitivity, jaw pain or tightness, tired jaw muscles, earache, headache, chronic facial pain, damage on the inside of your cheek, and indentations in your tongue.

Are There Any Natural Cures for Teeth Grinding?

Consulting your dentist or even doctor for potential treatments is important to help your avoid further damage to your teeth. However, you can also use a number of natural treatments to help combat the issue. Vitamin B5, calcium and magnesium are a few of the most common nutritional treatments, but other important treatment options include doing yoga, drinking a warm beverage before bed, and using heat to relax your jaw muscles.

1. Vitamin B5

According to the Health Wyze Report, teeth grinding is most often the result of a nutritional deficiency. As such, options like vitamin B5 are important nutritional supports for remedying the condition. The nutrient helps treat a number of the common symptoms associated with bruxism and may even help reduce stress and hyperactivity. You should take vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid as a dietary supplement each day. A common dose is 5-10mg.

2. Calcium

Calcium is another important treatment option supported by NaturalSleep.org. This treatment helps support bone strength and even prevents teeth grinding by supporting effective neural development.

3. Magnesium

Magnesium deficiency is often one of the root causes of bruxism, so taking a magnesium supplement is often a good way to treat the condition. You can get magnesium from green leafy vegetables and nuts, or you can take a combination supplement that contains magnesium in addition to calcium and vitamin D.

Try one of these nutritional supplements in combination with stress-reducing practices or keep reading below for additional remedies suggested by our contributors.

References:
Diseases and Conditions: Bruxism - http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bruxism/basics/definition/con-20029395
Home Remedies for Teeth Grinding - http://www.naturalsleep.org/home-remedies-for-teeth-grinding/
Naturally Treating and Curing Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) - http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/566-naturally-treating-and-curing-teeth-grinding-bruxism.html

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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5 HTP

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Posted by Blue Star (Tennessee) on 05/01/2018
 ★★★★★

I started using 5 HTP for sleep issues because I realized I wasn't going into a deep sleep. I take 1 -2 50mg of 5 HTP about 1-2 hours before bed time.

One of the results is that my jaw feels more relaxed in the morning. I feel I wasn't sleeping because I wasn't producing enough serotonin. Because I am now going into a deep sleep, I don't seem to be grinding my teeth.

More 5 HTP is not better as the dreams become real vivid. My body seems to be trained now ... as I naturally get sleepy in the evening, unlike before 5 HTP.

Avoid Flossing At Night

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Posted by Kitkat (Delray Beach, FL) on 01/30/2022
 ★★★★★

I use to frequently grind my teeth in my sleep and have frequent dreams that my teeth were falling out. I started to take a look at my evening routine. I use an electric toothbrush, Oral B for 30 years. Then I would floss my teeth. I realized to properly floss I had my jaw in a semi-locked position. Ahhh ha moment. I started to floss in the am. The grinding and nightmare teeth dreams stopped. Yah!!!! When I consulted my DDS she said that makes sense.

Bentonite Clay

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Posted by Gracie (Houston, Texas) on 04/14/2016
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Teeth grinding at night

I have a terrible problem with grinding my teeth while sleeping. My enamel is wearing down and my jaw was popping all the time. I tried some teeth protection products that you wear during the night and they were expensive and uncomfortable. For the past few months, I have been putting about 1/2 teaspoon of bentonite clay powder (which turns into a paste from saliva) between my molars every night and it is working quite well in providing a cushion. At first I would swallow the clay during the night but have learned to sleep quite well with it there.

Garlic, Olive Leaf, and Wormwood

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Posted by Lori (Phoenix, Az) on 04/14/2016
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Editor's Choice

I've had jaw clenching problems for years and have looked for the underlying problem as well as the cure. I refuse to believe that the problem is stress although I'll be the first to say that I've had plenty of stress in my life. Although, I've also had times of great relief from stress and through it all, I've been clenching. Currently, I'm not working, my stress has decreased immensely and yet, every night, I would clench.....that is up until last night. Five days ago, I started on a routine of eating raw garlic everyday and taking olive leaf and a wormwood formula. I've only been taking the supplements twice a day and at lunch, I've been eating a tablespoon of raw garlic mixed into a spicy avocado hummus. I've been on a modified Paleo diet for almost 2 years and would not usually eat hummus nor the crackers that I've been dipping into the hummus but I decided that I wanted to eat raw garlic and wanted to make it easy on myself. Actually, it's quite good with the hummus and crackers and my husband has been great with me smelling like garlic every night! This morning I woke up with no tension in my jaw and had not been clenching last night. It is definitely too early to say that I've cured myself but I'm thrilled to have made progress.

I've tried magnesium, night guards, quitting my job, acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, massage, cupping my jaws (massage cupping), sleeping without a pillow flat on my back, hanging upside down on an inversion table and bouncing on a mini-tramp to fix/cure this problem. This is the first time that I've gotten some relief. I have no idea if I have parasites and if indeed they are causing the jaw clenching - I've read numerous articles that talk about this possibility - I'm just happy to see results.

I plan on taking a break with the garlic for 3 days and seeing how it goes, then I will decide if I go back to it and for how long. As far as other effects from the garlic - I've noticed that I wake up before the alarm goes off and I've been waking up easily. I've also been sleeping much better.

Magnesium

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Posted by Toourlady89 (Hayward, Ca) on 05/11/2013
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My family has been taking Magnesium since I read from Magnesium Miracle book that most of us are magnesium deficient.. After weeks of using Chelated Mg Glycinate 400 mg, plus Magnesium Oil-- 8 Sprays to each leg at night-- my husband started sleeping better, uninterrupted. I noticed that he did not grind his teeth anymore. He also stopped snoring. I just hear a soft hiss as he sleeps. I googled Magnesium and snoring: An article by Dr. Carolyn Dean states that Mg deficiency causes SNORING and SLEEP APNEA - where Mg should be the first choice of treatment before resorting to the common treatments such as surgeries or CPAP. Her suggested dose: Magnesium Citrate powder 300mg twice a day. We used the Chelated Mg and it worked as well. We also use Magnesium Chloride spray as it works faster, per Dr Sircus "Transdermal Magnesium" book.. Hope it helps.

Replied by Gian
(Milano)
11/13/2013

Not to grind your teeth at night you have to sleep on your back to belly up and vacate the jaw to move for a month you have already declutire. dopo improvements and disappear after several months even for those who have tinnitus. There is a site in Italian doctor Galiffa that explains everything in English.

Magnesium
Posted by Craig (Forest Grove, Oregon) on 12/24/2012
 ★★★★★

After years dealing with teeth grinding, clenching, TMJ, and a variety of dental night guards, I started taking magnesium suppliments and the effect was immediate. Most of the bruxism literature that I've read labels stress as its major cause. I'm sure that's true for some people, but I also knew that it didn't fully explain mine. Discovering such a simple solution to such a long term problem was an epiphany.

Replied by Laura
(Portland, Or)
02/11/2013
4 posts

How much magnesium would you take for bruxism? I clentch my jaw horrible at night while sleeping and I never get a restful sleep anymore. I would love to try this.

Replied by Oldriska
(Prague, Czech Republic)
02/12/2013

Whether you buy magnesium liquid or tablets the package should state the recommened dosage. I'd stick to that at least as you start using it, after a few days or weeks you'll be able to tell if you need to take more for your symptoms. You'll know when you're taking too much because likely you'll get diarrhea. Good luck with your treatment.

Replied by Georgia
(Eastern, Sd)
02/12/2013

For teeth grinding have you ever heard that it could be caused by parasites in your body? My son was doing that and we gave him supplements and garlic to get rid of the parasites and it did. It is an saying from the old days.

Replied by Rey C
(Ne Florida)
09/30/2015
★★★★☆

I have taken magnesium for a while but am still snoring. An easy way to uptake magnesium is to make Waller Water, 2 ingredients at the grocery store, cheap and easy. http://www.afibbers.org/Wallerwater.pdf

Is there a therapeutic dose chart maybe I need more than 500 mg a day.

Magnesium
Posted by Kathy (Dubois, Pa) on 10/03/2009
 ★★★★★

Tooth grinding is symptomatic of a Magnesium Deficiency. Try a Magnesium Citrate drink before bed.

Melatonin

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Posted by Deborah (Missouri) on 04/03/2016
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My autistic son ground his teeth every night for years and has reflux. Dr's have had no success figuring out how to help him. I started trying the treatment for reflux with 3mg of melatonin before bed and found that it stops the grinding. Reflux still remains a problem though.

Replied by Malu
(Houston)
01/29/2023

Hi, Deborah!

For reflux for your son, try to give him the heaviest meal around one or two pm, and for dinner something light before 6pm. That way when he goes to sleep his tummy is not overloaded. Don't give him fried or greasy food. Avoid chocolate, beans and corn or flour products on the last meal of the day.

Violet Ray Machine

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Posted by Brooke (Montgomery, Tx, Usa) on 12/18/2010
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I had no idea that this would cure my teeth grinding, however, I haven't grind-ed my teeth since! I now have a "violet ray" machine and I have been using it on my scalp for about 6 or 7 months now to cure some hair problems that I use to have. It has caused a great side effect though! A WARNING though if you decide to get the "violet ray" - DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL on the day that you use it!! And please search the internet for all other warnings about it. I only use it for about 1 -10 minutes at a time. It has relaxed me tremendously; so much that I only use it once a week instead of 5 days a week! However, it has CURED me of grinding my teeth at night, which I did for about 13 years. I use to wake up with a sore jaw, and my teeth have been a little disfigured from it. It has also helped with some blood pressure issues that I have had, which is also a wonderful side effect!

Replied by Sean
(Sydney, Nsw, Australia)
04/18/2011

What side effect did the violet ray machine cause you exactly?

Replied by James M.
(New York, Usa)
09/27/2016
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

WARNING

In cases involving the Violet Ray, subjects begin slowly withdrawing from their environment, disassociating from loved ones. Whilst maintaining a normal exterior, inside mental and more importantly, personal chaos ensues. Casual questions such as, "My, that's a pretty dress your wearing" are interpreted as condemnations, judgments if you will. Typically the conditions grow worse. In one case cited as originating in Indiana, a mother bored holes in her child's head to release the demons within. The stuff of freak shows, Frankenstein's glowing orbs - you decide. But be careful, the Violet Ray is no ordinary ray - it contains the essence of life, and as such it may also contain the essence of darkness, a link as it may be, to hell itself.

Vitamin C

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Posted by William (Raton, New Mexico) on 10/02/2009
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bruxism / tooth grinding: Vitamin C in teaspoon quantity twice a day and I took a super 10 antioxidant once a day. I also had a mouth piece made to fit over the teeth at night by a dentist who charged me $800.


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