We all grind our teeth sometimes, like when the food you ordered is taking too long, or when you're late for work and the driver ahead of you isn't even going the speed limit. But if your wake up with an awful headache, or your partner complains they can hear your teeth scraping at night, your problem might be more severe. The official name for grinding your teeth is bruxism, and it's not a condition you want to take lightly.

When bruxism becomes severe enough it can lead to other painful or embarrassing oral health problems. You could wear down your teeth, break them or even lose some.

Thankfully, there are lots of easy cures to give you relief.

One of the main causes of bruxism at night is the same one you experience during the day: something getting on your nerves. Even while we sleep, stress and anxiety can lead to grinding, so try to unwind and cut down on caffeine, sugar and alcohol.

Even if you're totally relaxed, an alignment problem with your jaw can lead to grinding. A dentist could prescribe a corrective mouthguard, but you can also train your jaw to relax by keeping the tip of your tongue between your teeth.

Finally, sleep apnea is a big cause of teeth grinding. Changing your posture and sleep habits could help, but if it doesn't you may need to visit a doctor or sleep expert. The worst case scenario is you'll have to wear a sleep apnea mask.

It's easy to overlook something as small as your teeth, but nobody wants to be the first person they know wearing dentures, so it's important to look after them.

But be sure not to get stressed out about grinding your teeth! That would only make things worse.

Share this post if you know someone who grinds their teeth!