When you find out that you are someone who requires bruxism treatment, you may feel astonished. “I didn’t even know I was grinding my teeth!” you might say. Or, you may be someone who clenches your teeth and feel quite shocked that you were unaware of this motion. As you may have just realized, bruxism is grinding or clenching that you’re not doing intentionally. Your muscles are moving, of course, but you may not realize it. Why treat it, you wonder? Well, that grinding and clenching can lead to very serious damage, which we can prevent! Of course, as we’re helping you prevent it with treatment, there are some choices our Cerritos, CA team suggests you make in order to promote the success of your treatment (rather than work against it!).
Watch Out For Too Much Caffeine
Our team knows that if you’re a coffee drinker, a latte drinker, or even a tea or soda drinker, caffeine is simply part of your daily life. While we have nothing negative to say about a bit of caffeine, we do want you to remember that when you overdo it, this can make things worse for your bruxism, which doesn’t do your bruxism treatment any favors. Take a closer look at how this stimulant affects you and plan accordingly.
Don’t Overdo The Chewing
The more you chew, the more your body and mind become accustomed to that motion. In some cases, this may mean you’re more likely to grind or clench more. Give these muscles and motions a rest when you can. How to do so? Go ahead and continue with meals and a couple snacks. Skip long-term snacking, chewing gum, snacking on ice, etc.
Find A Way To Ease Your Stress
Did you know that stress can make bruxism disorder worse? Find ways to relax and manage your stress, so bruxism treatment has an increased chance to offer effective improvement.
Consider Quitting Tobacco
Remember that when you come in to meet with us for bruxism treatment, it’s a wonderful time to ask for additional advice! We will talk with you about what may contribute to your bruxism disorder and one of those things could be smoking tobacco. As you know, in addition to making grinding and clenching worse, tobacco is dangerous for your oral health and your overall health in many ways! We will suggest quitting. Need help? Let us know, so we may offer support.
Make Bruxism Treatment Effective With Our Help
Rely not only on our bruxism treatment but also on our advice, so that you can keep your smile safe. To schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Hofkes, contact us today by calling 562-584-4082. We proudly welcome patients of all ages from Cerritos, CA, and all surrounding communities, such as Lakewood, Long Beach, Buena Park, and more.
