What Happens To Your Teeth When You're Asleep?

 You might not know this, but your teeth can get up to quite the adventure when you’re asleep! There’s a lot that can go on within your mouth, a lot of which is harmless, but some can affect your oral health in the long term. 

As such, it’s good to know what might be happening at night and what you can do to lessen the impact. With that in mind, here are a few common nocturnal events that teeth are often subject to. 

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They Can Grind and Clench

 A lot of people grind their teeth when they’re asleep. Known as bruxism, dentists aren’t quite sure as to why grinding is such a common thing, but they do know it’s usually linked to feeling stressed or anxious. 

 Your jaw can clench when you’re asleep, leaving your teeth under an immense amount of pressure as you clench on and off throughout the night. And seeing as you don’t know you’re doing it, you can’t just try to relax and make yourself stop. 

 Whether you do one or the other (or both), your dentist will be able to immediately see the signs and advise you on what to do to protect your teeth while you’re asleep. 

They Can Be Straightened Out

 Did you know it’s possible to wear nighttime clear aligners that help your teeth to neaten or straighten out? 

 Clean your teeth as usual, pop your aligners in, and head to sleep knowing you’ve got a strong, protective brace there helping your mouth to realign for better comfort and confidence.

 And yes, it’s totally possible for these to work even if you only wear them at night. You’ll have to get the expert opinion of your dentist first, of course, but for those with only mild misalignment or crowding, this could be a pretty straightforward option for you. 

Bacteria Can Cause Havoc

 People usually sleep for around 6 to 8 hours every night, and that’s a long period of time to be prone and doing nothing else. As such, the bacteria that naturally exist inside your mouth have a much better chance to start wreaking havoc. 

Not only can bacteria multiply, but they can also feed off of any crumbs that may be left in your mouth overnight. And as they do, they can eat away at the surface of your teeth as well.

That’s why brushing your teeth before you go to bed is the one time you absolutely must brush your teeth throughout the day. You want as little leftover sugar and acid in your mouth as possible, and that requires at least 3 minutes of brushing before hitting the hay.

 Your teeth could be grinding, clenching, straightening, or be surrounded by bacteria during the night. And seeing as you’re asleep, you’re none the wiser! So, make sure you include oral hygiene in your nighttime routine, visit a dentist to get your teeth checked out, and look into more comfortable ways to help your teeth sit straight.