Save Your Teeth by Wearing Mouth Guards at Night

A patient's dentist may recommend custom mouth guards to reduce the effects of bruxism and help prevent long-term tooth damage. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common cause of headaches, jaw pain and similar symptoms. It also can increase a patient's risk for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome, a condition that may cause jaw joint pain, trouble opening or closing the mouth and difficulty chewing food.

How can patients tell if they need a mouth guard?

While there are conscious steps to take for patients who clench or grind their teeth while awake, those who grind their teeth while asleep may not even be aware that they are doing it. There are several things that can let patients or their dentist know that bruxism is a problem.

Excessive tooth wear

In many cases, a patient's dentist will notice extreme wear on the teeth in a case of bruxism. To prevent further damage and preserve the teeth, the dentist may recommend a custom mouth guard.

Headaches upon waking

Having a headache when waking up is a common sign of bruxism. The prolonged tension resulting from grinding the teeth at night often result in painful headaches.

Pain in the TMJ

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) often becomes tender to the touch in patients who grind their teeth at night. In some cases, joint pain will be so severe that the patient has trouble open and closing the mouth normally. Bruxism is not the only cause of TMJ pain, but it is a common one.

How does a mouth guard protect the teeth?

Many patients may not think that bruxism is particularly dangerous. However, according to Dentistry Today, bruxism often reaches a force of up to 500 pounds per square inch (psi). This force is many times the force of normal chewing — even biting down on dense, crunchy foods like carrots exerts a force less than 30 psi.

This repeated force can cause damage to the teeth. In some cases, patients with bruxism end up causing severe damage to tooth enamel. Since enamel is the protective layer, patients with bruxism may eventually experience increased sensitivity and even cavities.

Mouth guards provide a layer between the jaws that protects the surfaces of the teeth from further damage. They may not completely stop bruxism, but they do protect the patient's teeth from continually being worn down. Guards designed for night use are custom-fitted by a dentist based on an impression of the patient's teeth. They are usually comfortable and low-profile, and they do not interfere with breathing. Most patients become accustomed to sleeping in mouth guards fairly quickly.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Mouth Guards in Gainesville, VA.

Conclusion

For patients who grind their teeth at night or suspect they do, a good first step to dealing with the problem is simply talking to a dentist. The dentist can examine teeth for signs of bruxism. If mouth guards are needed, a custom-fitted option keeps the patient comfortable and reduces the often-painful side effects of teeth grinding.

Request an appointment or call Prince William Dental at 703-662-8287 for an appointment in our Gainesville office.

Recent Posts

When To Consult An Implant Dentist

Our implant dentist is here to help if you are considering getting dental implants. These are metal rods/screws that are placed into the jaw to replace missing teeth roots. Implants serve as bases for dental restorations that replace missing teeth like crowns, dentures, and bridges.Implants are often compared to real teeth since they do not…

An Implant Dentist Discusses Bone Growth And Healing After Placement

Considering dental implants? Read on to learn about the process from an implant dentist. Bone growth and healing are essential parts of the implant dentistry process. It can take time for the bone to grow and heal around the implant after it has been placed, so understanding what to expect and how long it typically…

What Are The Services That An Implant Dentist Provides?

An implant dentist is a dental professional who specializes in teeth replacement treatment with dental implant restorations. A dental implant is a screw-like titanium restoration that is placed into the jawbone and serves as the root of a replacement tooth (or multiple replacement teeth). In this review, we discuss the services that an implant dentist…

Prince William Dental

Share
Published by
Prince William Dental

Recent Posts

When to Consult an Implant Dentist

Our implant dentist is here to help if you are considering getting dental implants. These…

6 days ago

An Implant Dentist Discusses Bone Growth and Healing After Placement

Considering dental implants? Read on to learn about the process from an implant dentist.

6 days ago

What Are the Services That an Implant Dentist Provides?

An implant dentist is a dental professional who specializes in teeth replacement treatment with dental…

2 weeks ago

When Does an Implant Dentist Recommend Single vs Multiple Implants?

Dental implants are durable, natural-looking replacements for missing teeth. An implant dentist may recommend a…

3 weeks ago

The Key Differences Between a General and Cosmetic Dentist

A cosmetic dentist focuses on the appearance of a patient’s smile, while a general addresses…

3 weeks ago

Implant Dentist vs General Dentist: Who Should You Consult?

If you have missing teeth or are planning to get dentures, you might be wondering…

1 month ago