7 Genius TikTok Hacks To Put A Stop To Your Teeth-Grinding Habit

While it might not seem like your daytime workout routine influences your nighttime teeth grinding, this TikTok says otherwise. Working out can drain your body of energy that you might otherwise use to grind your chompers. As an added bonus, exercise can relieve stress and help you get better sleep, all of which could further tackle underlying causes of your grinding habit.

Difficulty relaxing your facial muscles can lead to grinding or clenching your teeth. And while your dentist may be your first phone call, this TikTok recommends enlisting other health professionals in your quest to conquer bruxism: Physical therapists can help align and strengthen jaw muscles to mitigate teeth grinding through massage and face-stretching exercises. A chiropractor can also correct joint or muscle issues in other parts of the body that contribute to tension in your jaw.

A massage is always an appealing solution, whatever your dilemma may be. This TikTok recommends kneading and stretching your facial muscles, which can help align your jaw and release tension that contributes to clenching or grinding. You can with a physical therapist or try a self-massage at home to set your jaw up for sleepytime success.

Acupressure, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice that touches localized points for various healing purposes, can help relieve jaw pain and reduce bruxism, according to this TikTok. Applying pressure to certain spots in the muscles connected to your jaw can help ease inflammation from muscle tension so that your mouth is able to relax in time for bed.

Ever notice how your jaw tenses up whenever you're anxious? That can still happen overnight, because stress lives in your body and can manifest as teeth grinding, according to this TikTok. Try a meditation or gentle yoga flow before bed to relax your body and mind, or work with a therapist to alleviate your anxieties in the longer term. Your mental health and your teeth will thank you.

While a stick of gum can do wonders for morning breath, it might not be worth it if you're waking up with jaw pain. Repetitively clenching and unclenching your jaw while chewing gum can prime your muscles for nighttime tension and grinding. This TikTok recommends avoiding gum (and other hard or chewy foods) so that your muscles learn to relax, day and night.

While your WFH setup might not lend itself to perfect posture, taking the time to align your spine and neck muscles could make all the difference come nighttime, says this TikToker. When you're sitting up straight, there are natural curves to your spine that allow your skeleton to hold your head up. But looking down at a screen all day means your neck muscles, not your bones, are doing most of the heavy lifting. This can strain the muscles supporting your head and lead to tension in your jaw. Try hanging your head back throughout the day so that your muscles are relaxed once your head hits the pillow.