Do you grind your teeth at night?
Have you been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)?
You might benefit from wearing a night guard.
Made from durable materials like acrylic, dental night guards are custom-fitted oral appliances that help your mouth stay in the ideal position at night, promote better sleep, and preserve your dental health by reducing wear and tear.
Here are the most common reasons you should consider wearing a night guard:
Tooth Protection and Pain Relief
The number one reason for wearing a night guard is to protect your teeth from pain and dental issues caused by bruxism — more commonly known as grinding. And if you’re grinding your teeth, you might not even know you’re doing it.
Some of the most common symptoms of bruxism include:
- A partner hearing you grind your teeth at night
- Frequently waking at night or waking up unrefreshed after a full night’s sleep
- Morning headaches and/or jaw pain
- Pain that feels like an earache without problems in your ear
- Tooth pain or sensitivity
- Worn tooth enamel
- Cracks or wear on the surfaces of your molars
- Damaged dental work
If you grind your teeth in your sleep, a night guard will add a layer separating them from each other. This way, your teeth won’t be able to grind directly on each other, which can lead to damage.
Headache Prevention
Not only can bruxism cause damage to your teeth, it can also lead to headaches caused by the action of your jaw clenching when you grind your teeth.
Wearing a night guard lessens the amount of muscle contraction in your jaw and temples. By easing the amount of contraction, your muscles and jaw will be more relaxed at night, helping you wake up without pain.
TMJ Treatment
Grinding your teeth can also lead to a painful problem with your jaw called temporal mandibular joint disorder, more commonly known as TMJ. If you suffer from TMJ, your jaw can feel stuck or locked when you open or close your mouth. You may also notice a clicking sound when opening your mouth and feel pain around your face.
By preventing teeth grinding, a night guard can ease the symptoms of TMJ or help you avoid developing it in the future.
Dental Repair
Wearing a night guard can start to put a stop to your dental damage so your dentist can start repairing it.
Bruxism can cause you to need various restorative procedures to correct your dental issues, from crowns to cover cracks on top of your teeth to root canals to fix broken teeth. If your teeth grinding damaged prior fillings or crowns, your dentist can replace those, as well.
What to Expect
If you grind your teeth at night, schedule an appointment for an exam at the Mint Dental in Chattanooga. we can diagnose any pain you might be having, as well as determine if any of your teeth have damage in need of repair. We will also make an impression of your smile so we can create a custom-fit night guard to help you avoid any future painful and costly damage.
