How to Guard against the Grind
Have you ever experienced jaw pain or severe headaches? If so, you might be suffering from bruxism. Bruxism is a condition in which you grind, clench, or gnash your teeth. One of the main causes of bruxism is stress. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for bruxism. Although it can be challenging to stop the underlying causes of teeth grinding and clenching, you can eliminate the negative effects of bruxism by wearing a night guard.
What is a night guard?
A night guard is a retainer-like plastic piece that can be either hard or soft. It covers the biting surfaces and can be worn on either the bottom or top set of teeth. A night guard is custom-made for each patient by molding it to fit your teeth. It is also known as a mouthguard, occlusal guard, bite splint, dental guard, or nocturnal bite plate.
Prevent Plaque Development
Despite the similarity in names, you should not confuse a sports mouth guard with a device designed for preventing teeth grinding and clenching. A sports mouth guard will do more harm than good. It covers the teeth and gums as it is meant to protect them from blunt force trauma. If worn at night, it traps bacteria on the gum’s surface while you sleep since saliva can’t get to the gums while wearing a sports mouth guard.
Saliva helps to neutralize acids that can cause cavities and washes away food particles hence preventing plaque development. Therefore, it is best to consult an oral hygiene professional when looking for a night guard to avoid damaging your teeth. It is important to note that some night guards come with holes to allow saliva to access your teeth. Rest assured that your dentist will provide you with the right design depending upon the condition of your teeth.
Prevent Changing Your Bite
A night guard is usually fitted precisely to your teeth and bite because its aim is to protect the surfaces from grinding against each other. Since sports mouthguards are soft and made of a thicker, rubbery material, they are not designed to fit your bite. Softer material can cause you to chew while sleeping as the brain interprets it to be food, which may cause muscle discomfort. If you choose to wear a sports mouthguard at night, it would cause your bite to shift with time.
Types of Night Guards
The American Sleep Association classifies nightguards depending on the materials from which they are made:
- Hard night guards are made from acrylic and are used to treat TMJ as well as severe teeth grinding and clenching cases. As the muscles relax, the bite changes due to the lower jaw positioning itself in a healthy centric position. Adjustments to the bite on the guard will help your muscles and jaw relax. Since hard night guards are made from a firm material, they are the most durable type.
- Over-the-counter night guards are sold at pharmacies and are a one-size-fits-all solution that is pre-molded to fit any mouth.
- Boil-and-bite night guards have to be softened in hot water for a better fit. Unfortunately, long-term use of such devices causes your bite to shift as they have not been made specifically for the shape of your teeth.
- Custom-made night guards offer a personalized solution since they are made using the impression of your teeth. With the proper care and adjustments, these are durable enough to last for several years.
Why wear a night guard?
Prevents Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw with the skull and affects the muscles you use to chew. As you clench your teeth in your sleep, you apply pressure into the TMJ, which can cause misalignment. When misaligned, you develop TMJ dysfunction. The disorder causes difficulty in chewing, pain around and in your ear, and even headaches. You may also damage the articular disk, which is irreparable and can cause disk displacement. This can lead to your jaw unexpectedly locking open or closed, which may lead to a trip to the ER. Wearing a night guard prevents the disorder’s development because it eases any tension you can cause on the muscles.
Prevent Chronic Headaches
Chronic neck aches and headaches are usually the first symptoms of possible bruxism, since TMJ dysfunction manifests itself through migraines. The tensed muscles in the neck, shoulders, mouth, and jaw cause headaches. However, before you rush to diagnose yourself as suffering from bruxism, you can check that the headaches are indeed being caused by teeth grinding and clenching. One way is to look at the surface of the teeth; if instead of being pointed, they have flattened, you most likely grind your teeth in your sleep. You can also look for a recession of gum and bone, which can happen because of clenching. A custom-made night guard eliminates headaches because you no longer have to tense up the muscles.
Saves Money
A one-size-fits-all nightguard costs $20, but is not recommended because it will be uncomfortable. A dental night guard that is custom-made for you can cost around $800, which can seem like breaking the bank for most bruxism patients. However, the amount should not limit you from getting a nightguard. When you compare the cost of a night guard with the cost of restorative dentistry, the former is cheaper. Once your teeth wear out and get fractures, restorative dentistry will be the only way to resolve your dental problems. Dental work like fillings, crowns, tooth loss (which can be replaced with implants), and fixing your bite can be very costly.
If you have concerns about grinding your teeth or bruxism, contact us today to set up an appointment or to get your questions answered!
