If you occasionally clench or grind your teeth, you might be suffering from a disease known as bruxism if you frequently wake up with a sore jaw, stiff neck, or tooth discomfort as a result of clenching your teeth more than usual. When you constantly clench or grind your teeth as you sleep or even just try to focus all day, it is called bruxism. It may erode tooth enamel, wear down the teeth, and potentially cause TMJ dysfunction.
You can reach out to our dentist in Edmonton to learn more. How can you then alleviate pain, safeguard your teeth, and avoid expensive dental work? A night guard is a simple fix.
Explanation of Teeth Grinding
Stress and anxiety are frequently implicated as causes of teeth grinding. sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and snoring. taking specific medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a kind of antidepressant.
Overview of Night Guards
A night guard is a piece of acrylic that is specially made to fit over your teeth, much like a retainer does. This acrylic works as a barrier between your teeth, preventing them from smacking into one another and causing wear, fissures, gum recession, and tooth movement.
Wearing a night guard has several benefits for teeth-grinding sufferers:
1. Prevention of Dental Problems
The habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, or bruxism, can harm your teeth permanently. Constant clenching can cause your teeth’s enamel to erode, which can cause wear, chipping, cracking, and tooth shortening. Too much grinding can even wear down your teeth to the point where a crown may be required to restore them. Wearing a night guard while you sleep, or even during times during the day when you notice you are clenching or grinding your teeth, will lessen the friction between your teeth and potentially shield them from long-term harm.
2. Reduces Jaw Tension And Pain
You could experience bruxism and feel like your jaw is tense all the time. This makes routine activities uncomfortable, including laughing, chatting, and even eating. To ensure that you can open and close your jaw comfortably, using a sleep guard will ease the stress in your jaw muscles.
3. Improved Sleep Quality
If you clench or grind your teeth frequently, this condition is known as bruxism. Because of this, commonplace activities like laughing, chit-chatting, and even eating become painful. Using a sleep guard will relieve the strain on your jaw muscles and ensure that you can open and close your mouth comfortably.
4. Prevents Headaches
Constant clenching can cause sensitive teeth, toothaches, and headaches. You can feel strain in your neck and ears in addition to aching or tender jaw muscles. This discomfort and its signs can be reduced by wearing a sleep guard. Custom mouth guards can even aid with biting abnormalities, tooth alignment, and other problems linked to TMJ pain.
Increased Longevity of Night Guard Wear
These suggestions will help a night guard last longer:
- Select a night guard that is constructed of sturdy materials like strong acrylic.
- Regularly clean the night guard with lukewarm water, mild soap, and non-abrasive toothpaste.
- Avoid using harsh cleaning products or hot water.
- When not in use, carefully store the night guard in a tidy, ventilated case.
- Keep the night guard away from extreme heat and sunlight.
- Your dentist near you may advise replacing the night guard as wear and tear begins to show.
Schedule an Appointment with a Dental Professional
If you clench and grind your teeth frequently, it will eventually cost you money to visit the dentist in Edmonton to have your dental problems addressed. The teeth may actually need to be replaced if you grind your teeth for a prolonged period of time. You will eventually save money by using a night guard because you won’t need to visit the dentist to have your jaw and teeth examined.
Please get in touch with Golf Links Dental if you’d like more details about dental night guards near you.
