Choose a Night Guard for Protection and Proper Sleep
Are you a routine night-grinder? You may not even be aware that you are!
For many, the stresses of everyday life can not only be emotionally draining, but can affect us physically as well. For example – bruxism, or the grinding and clenching of the teeth (especially at night), may be one of those things. Unfortunately, things like stress, anxiety, an improper bite, or even obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may cause some people to subconsciously clench their teeth while they are asleep. A good way to tell if you’ve been grinding your teeth at night is to ask yourself these questions:
- Is my jaw or teeth sore when I wake up from sleep?
- Do I suffer from regular headaches?
- Are my teeth worn down?
If you’ve answered yes to even one of these questions, it’s important to pay a visit to your dentist to determine whether bruxism has been affecting you. Fortunately, treating this condition is very simple. The use of a custom-fitted night guard has proven to be a successful solution for many patients.
Night Guards to the Rescue!
Your dentist will be able to create a custom night guard for you after taking a mold of your teeth and sending it to a lab for production. Alternatively, “boil and bite” night guards can be purchased over the counter to easily be shaped to your mouth at home. While this option is easier on the wallet, it isn’t the recommended choice as it may not offer optimal protection and comfort like a professionally fitted mouth guard does. Talk to your dentist about which type of mouth guard would be the most beneficial for you and your individual case.
Avoiding the Consequences
Bruxing the teeth night after night can eventually cause significant wear to the teeth and welcome on more oral health issues. Your jaw joint can eventually experience severe damage and permanent discomfort, and your teeth may even become loose and need to be removed if you don’t take preventive measures as soon as you recognize that you have a grinding problem. In addition, your quality of sleep shouldn’t have to suffer, either. Look after your jaw, teeth and body with a night guard!
Do you think you may have a bruxism problem? Don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with Dairy Lane Dental today! Our Huntsville dentists are warm, friendly, and always happy to help.
Listen Up, Athletes!