It is normal to grind your teeth occasionally, especially when you are nervous or feeling cold. However, you may need treatment when teeth grinding happens so regularly that you damage your teeth and experience jaw pain. This condition – bruxism – can cause several oral health complications. The good news is; it can usually be addressed through the application of a mouthguard. If teeth grinding is causing you untold pain, here is what you should know about bruxism & mouthguards Houston.
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How Will You Know If You Grind Your Teeth?
Sometimes, you may develop chronic teeth grinding due to loss of teeth, loose gums, or fracturing. This continued rubbing of enamel against enamel often wears down the teeth to stumps, necessitating the application of teeth implants, crowns, bridges, or dentures. In some cases, you may completely lose your teeth. Teeth grinding can also lead to intense jaw pain, worsened TMJ symptoms, and changes in your facial anatomy. But how exactly do you determine if bruxism is behind all these problems?
Because it occurs at night, bruxism can be difficult to diagnose on your own. You may wake up with the tell-tale jaw pain or headache symptoms, but you may not know the problem until you get a professional diagnosis. Your dentist will usually examine your mouth for signs like teeth wear and jaw tenderness. Alternatively, you can ask a loved one to monitor you at night.
Mouthguards and Bruxism
When your dentist diagnoses you with bruxism, you will need to address the problem immediately. One common and effective treatment option is wearing a mouthguard when you sleep. Also called a night guard, this is a mouthpiece worn over your teeth while you sleep to prevent your lower and upper teeth from grinding against each other. It can prevent further damage to your teeth and gums.
How? Mouthguards work by creating a protective barrier between your lower and upper teeth. When your jaw tries to clench at night, these devices loosen the grip preventing grinding. The overall effect is increased protection for your enamel and reduced jaw pain.
Benefits of Wearing a Mouthguard
In addition to protecting your teeth, wearing a mouthguard can eliminate the need for dental restorations in the future. It can also alleviate the headaches and jaw pain or discomfort that often result from teeth grinding. This can result in an overall improved quality of life and sleep.
Sometimes, night guards are used to treating some forms of obstructive sleep apnea. This is true when apnea symptoms are caused by a soft tissue airway blockage that happens when you sleep. Wearing a mouthguard can help keep your jaws aligned and your airways open when you sleep.
Kick Bruxism with a Custom-Made Mouthguard Today
Everybody clenches and grinds their teeth from time to time – it is a normal reaction to tense situations. However, when teeth grinding becomes habitual, it can cause problems like headaches, jaw pain, and loose teeth. This is where mouthguards come in handy. With a custom-made mouthguard, you can sleep better as the device works to protect your tongue, teeth, cheeks, and gums from trauma. If bruxism is taking a toll on your sleep quality and oral health, you should consider this treatment for effective relief. Contact the team at The Dentists at North Cypress to finally kick bruxism and reclaim your oral health.
