One of the most common dental problems is an action many may not even be aware they’re doing: teeth grinding. It can be caused by several factors, including stress, too much caffeine, depression, sleeping disorders, a poor diet, or tense jaw muscles throughout the day. This issue, otherwise known as bruxism, can lead to severe wear on your teeth over time. So if you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw and a headache, make sure to contact your dentist.

But before it gets to that point, here are several suggestions to assist in keeping the teeth grinding to a minimum. After all, the key to starting your day on the right note is getting a good night’s sleep.

Look into meditation

Committing to relaxation techniques—such as meditation—on a daily basis might contribute to a more peaceful night’s sleep. Essential oils are also a good way to decompress after a long day and could help destress your mind just in time for bed.

Make exercising a priority

Embracing a more active lifestyle comes with many benefits, one of which is helping you achieve a deeper, longer sleep. Often, we are unaware of how well we actually sleep, which might be due in part to teeth grinding. Exercising and working out your daily worries and stresses might aid in solving this problem.

Add more magnesium and vitamin C to your diet

Both magnesium and vitamin C are shown to ease the wear on your teeth. Because teeth grinding is connected to the bones and the nerves in your jaw, adding more magnesium- and vitamin-C- plentiful foods to your diet will help to strengthen your jaw muscles. Foods rich in magnesium include spinach, almonds, black beans, fish, and seeds. Popular vitamin C foods consist of kale, broccoli, peppers, apricots, and oranges. These foods are good for your body and mind, making them a new refrigerator staple.

Cut back on gum

Chewing gum all day might keep you occupied or help you concentrate, but doing so excessively could lead to more bad than good. If you wake up with a sore jaw from grinding your teeth all night, you may want to reflect on finding ways to cut back on bad habits. Chewing on anything other than food, including biting your nails, is also considered a factor in teeth grinding issues.

Be sure to let your dentist know if you’re experiencing severe pain in your jaw when you wake up in the morning.