Natural Health: What can I do about grinding my teeth at night? 

Plus - natural ways to balance out stomach acid problems

Pic: iStock

I’ve recently developed jaw pain. My dentist says it’s because I grind my teeth at night and need a mouth guard. Work is stressful, which doesn’t help. What would you suggest?

You have taken the first important step, confirming with your dentist that your jaw pain results from grinding your teeth or bruxism.

Nightly teeth grinding is often accompanied by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort and, as you mention, stress and anxiety are common underlying factors. A custom-fitted mouthguard can help alleviate jaw tension while sleeping and protect your teeth from damage caused by grinding.

Gentle massage focused on the jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles can ease muscle tension and relieve bruxism and TMJ issues. You can massage the area yourself or visit a myofascial massage practitioner.

To quickly ease the pain and tension in your jaw, apply a warm compress to your jaw area before bedtime. This will help relax your jaw muscles and decrease the likelihood of grinding your teeth while you sleep.

Avoiding stimulants like caffeine (and nicotine), particularly later in the evening, may help reduce the likelihood of teeth grinding. Herbal infusions, such as chamomile, hops, or valerian root, have long been used for their calming properties. By relaxing the body and mind, these herbs can set you up for a more peaceful and restorative sleep and soothe tense muscles.

Integrating relaxation techniques doesn’t require much time, effort, or expense. You’ll find plenty of free online resources that provide guided meditation and breathwork and take as little as two to three minutes.

I also grind my teeth and find it very useful to start and end each day with a 10-minute meditation and breathwork combination. I also wear a health-tracking device, showing the positive impact of these daily habits on my stress levels, heart rate, sleep, and recovery.

Consider supplementing with magnesium, as this helps with a wide range of conditions caused by muscle tension and stress. Levels of magnesium fall at night, so low magnesium often manifests as poor REM sleep patterns and late-night muscle tension or cramping.

The synergistic action between calcium and magnesium is essential for several bodily functions. It is common for excess calcium to cause an imbalance in this ratio, resulting in muscle cramping. The ideal ratio of calcium to magnesium is 2:1 with the recommended dosage of 800mg of calcium to 400mg of magnesium daily.

What can I take to ease my stomach acid? My doctor has suggested starting medication, but I’d like to try a natural remedy first.

Stomach acid problems, including acid reflux and indigestion, can cause havoc with your daily life. Contrary to what one might expect, low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) can contribute to acid reflux issues.

The stomach produces acid to aid in the digestion of food, and it plays a crucial role in preventing the backflow of its contents into the oesophagus. When stomach acid is low, the lower oesophageal sphincter, a muscular valve separating the stomach from the oesophagus, may not close properly. This means the stomach’s contents, including acid, reflux into the oesophagus, causing heartburn, regurgitation, and indigestion.

Several factors can contribute to low stomach acid, including age, stress, certain medications, nutrient deficiencies, and underlying conditions. Often Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria is discovered when ulcers or stomach acid imbalance is an issue.

While antacids often alleviate symptoms, they may further reduce stomach acid levels, potentially exacerbating the issue in the long run. It is worth asking your doctor to perform tests to assess stomach acid levels or refer you to a gastroenterologist.

It may be that medications are necessary, but it is crucial to understand whether you are dealing with low or excessive stomach acid first. Natural remedies can help, so please get back in touch once you have more information regarding stomach acid and the possible presence of H. pylori in the gut.

• If you have a question for Megan Sheppard, please email it to [e-mail] 
• NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.