Teeth Grinding at Night and Taping Your Mouth

 We were asked the following question regarding teeth grinding at night and taping your mouth.

Question:

I saw some information from Sarah Wilson stating that you mentioned taping your mouth shut at night might help with teeth grinding. As I clench my teeth, I wonder if this would also benefit me?

Dr Ron: 

We now know that in 70-80% of cases clenching or grinding of teeth (bruxism) reflects sleep-disordered breathing.

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We also know that over 90% of the population does not have enough room for all 32 of the teeth we humans have evolved to have. So narrow jaws and crowded teeth are very common. So what?

What’s interesting is the shape and size of the upper jaw determines the size and shape of your upper airway;

• It determines the amount of space available;
• The size, shape and position of the upper and lower jaws determine the amount of room the tongue has or doesn’t have.

All of which means a narrower jaw predisposes to a restricted upper airway.

Considering 95% of the population today doesn’t have enough room for all 32 of the teeth we have evolved to have. We are generally predisposed to having a restricted upper airway and dysfunctional breathing, particularly when you factor in allergies or sinusitis, which may further restrict the airway.

Fortunately, the human body is adaptable. From my own personal and professional observations, the use of micropore tape, which is a small part of the Buteyko Breathing Technique, can help improve breathing at night and positively reduce teeth grinding.

The Xrays below come from a recent research article on this very subject. It shows the difference in the airway between mouth breathing and nasal breathing. If you had a choice of which airway to breathe through for 7-8 hours/night, it’s obvious which one you would choose.

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We work closely with a sleep physician, and a properly supervised sleep study can be life-changing and, in some instances, life-saving. A consistent good night’s sleep is your built-in life support system affecting every measure of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Make it a habit for a lifetime.

Here is a brochure we use in our surgery. It’s simple and has helped all of our dental team and many of their family members and patients. We hope this helps you too.