Explore our Night Guards
Night guards can help protect your teeth by preventing issues with bruxism. Bruxism, or teeth-grinding can happen completely involuntarily and is usually linked to stress but can have many causes. Regardless of the cause, bruxism can lead to serious issues. Bruxism puts pressure on the teeth which can cause problems with the crown or tooth root.
Why do People Grind Their Teeth?
You might not notice it in the moment, but grinding your teeth is something you might do during the day or night. Most people are completely unaware that they are doing it especially if they are asleep. Common causes are often linked to stress or negative emotions like anger and anxiety. However, some medications have also been known to cause this. Children also commonly grind their teeth. No matter what the cause is, bruxism can lead to many different problems.
How Do I Know If I Grind My Teeth At Night?
Unfortunately, most of us problem won’t remember what we do when we sleep. In fact, most people will tell you they definitely do not snore even if they do because how would they know? Similar to snoring you might find out you grind your teeth from your partner or someone who lives with you. People who grind their teeth might make sounds while they are doing it. But if you live alone, there are some symptoms of teeth grinding to be on the lookout for.
- Jaw Pain (TMJ): Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ is often caused by pressure placed on the jaw and the muscles that support the jaw. There are many reasons TMJ might occur but it can be linked to grinding your teeth.
- Pain In Your Teeth: If you notice severe pain in your teeth (especially your back molars) it might be because of damage done from grinding your teeth. This can also put your teeth at higher risk for cavities.
- Headaches: If you are frequently waking up with headaches or noticing head pain while you sleep it might be caused by the tension in your jaw from grinding your teeth.
Why Should I Get A Night Guard?
Night guards can help protect your teeth overnight. While the symptoms of teeth grinding can be annoying and troublesome like jaw pain or headaches, the long-term effects can be much more substantial. Excess pressure on your teeth can weaken the enamel which makes it easier for cavities to form. Pressure can also lead to chips, cracks, or even broken teeth. A night guard can help prevent this.
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Night Guard
Night Guards from PEMBERTON Dental Associates Explore our Night Guards Night guards can help protect your teeth by preventing issues with bruxism. Bruxism, or teeth-grinding can happen completely involuntarily and is usually linked to stress but can have many causes. Regardless of the cause, bruxism can lead to serious issues. Bruxism puts pressure on the […]
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bruxism & Teeth Grinding
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a term used to describe grinding your teeth or putting pressure on your teeth. Oftentimes, people grind their teeth without noticing, especially at night. Unconsciously, a patient might grind their teeth while they are asleep. This can lead to severe jaw pain and can erode the structural integrity of your teeth over time. This can cause teeth to chip, crack, or even break. Because patients do not know that they are grinding their teeth while they sleep, the only way they would find out is because of related symptoms, or because their dentist notices the signs of worn-down teeth.
How Do You Prevent Bruxism?
It is not completely understood why people grind their teeth at night. While some doctors have suggested that anxiety and stress play a significant role, there is no direct treatment for bruxism that gets patients to stop grinding their teeth at night. Because of this, dentists will recommend custom-made night guards, which can protect your teeth from damage caused by clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth while you sleep.
How Do You Know If You Grind Your Teeth?
A dentist will often be the first to tell a patient they grind their teeth, especially in regard to bruxism. Otherwise, family members might notice the sound of you grinding your teeth while you sleep, or you might consistently wake up with jaw pain caused by the pressure that was placed on your teeth.
Do You Need Upper & Lower Jaw Night Guards?
No, oftentimes, dentists will recommend just a single night guard that is placed on the upper arch of teeth. This prevents the upper and lower teeth from scraping against one another and can prevent the damage caused by bruxism.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Night Guard?
If you believe that you have an issue with grinding your teeth, you should mention it to your dentist. They will take impressions of your teeth after performing a quick assessment to check the severity of your bruxism. Once they have taken measurements, they will be used to mold the guards. The entire process can take a few weeks to a month. The guards are then given to the patient who should wear them every night.
Do Store-Bought Night Guards Work?
You may notice that some pharmacies carry store-bought night guards. They can be effective, however, they will not be custom-fit to your teeth. Depending on the alignment of your teeth, this could make them completely ineffective or a pain to wear. Most of the time, the best choice is to have custom night guards made so that they fit perfectly in your mouth.