Should You Be Wearing a Nightguard?

Do you grind your teeth at night? Do you sometimes wake up with a headache or jaw pain? If so, you may need to start wearing a nightguard. A nightguard is a dental appliance that helps protect your teeth from the damage caused by grinding and clenching. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of wearing a nightguard and how to choose the right one for you.

The Dangers of Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can cause serious damage to your teeth and jaw if left untreated. Grinding your teeth can wear them down over time, leading to cracks and chips. It can also cause TMJ disorder, which is a painful condition affecting the jaw joint. In extreme cases, it can even lead to tooth loss.

Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

The most common symptom of teeth grinding is a loud grinding sound coming from your mouth. You may also suffer from morning headaches and jaw pain. Some people even experience earaches or facial pain. Teeth grinding can happen while you’re awake or asleep.

As well as grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw, other symptoms can include:

• face, neck and shoulder pain
• a painful jaw, which can lead to a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
• worn-down or broken teeth, which can cause increased sensitivity and loss of teeth and fillings
• headaches
• earache
• disturbed sleep

Causes

It’s not always clear what causes people to grind their teeth. It’s often linked to:

• stress and anxiety – this is the most common cause of teeth grinding
• sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnea
• taking certain medicines, including a type of antidepressant known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• smoking, drinking lots of alcohol and caffeine, and taking drugs like ecstasy and cocaine

Teeth grinding is common in children and teenagers, particularly during sleep. It often stops when they reach adulthood and their adult teeth have come through.

What is a Nightguard?

A nightguard is a dental appliance that helps protect your teeth from the damage caused by grinding and clenching. It’s typically made of hard plastic, which fits over your upper or lower teeth. The nightguard helps prevent your teeth from coming into contact with each other while you sleep, which can minimize or eliminate any grinding habits you may have.

Benefits of Wearing a Nightguard

A nightguard is designed to cushion your teeth and provide relief from bruxism-related pain and discomfort. Wearing a nightguard can help protect your teeth from damage and wear caused by grinding, reduce tension in the jaw muscles, and provide relief for TMJ disorder. They are also more affordable than having dental work to repair the damage caused by bruxism.

Types of Mouth Guards

There are three main types of mouth guards. We can categorize them according to purpose:

1. Mouth guards for sports. These protect your teeth from sports-related injuries. If you play sports like boxing, wrestling, soccer, basketball, hockey or football, mouth guards can greatly reduce your risk for chipped and avulsed (knocked out) teeth.
2. Mouth guards for grinding teeth. These appliances help protect your teeth from the effects of grinding and clenching. They may also reduce the effects of TMJ disorders. You can wear this type of mouth guard any time, night or day. But because most people grind or clench their teeth during sleep, it’s common to wear them at night. (Some people refer to these appliances as night guards.)
3. Snoring and sleep apnea mouth guards. People with chronic snoring or obstructive sleep apnea may benefit from a custom nightguard. This type of appliance shifts and repositions your jaw to open your airway during sleep.

Should I Get My Nightguard From a Dentist?

The best way to protect your teeth from grinding is to get a custom-fitted nightguard from your dentist. Your dentist can make sure that the nightguard fits properly and that it provides enough cushioning for your teeth. A custom-fitted nightguard may also provide additional comfort and support for TMJ disorders. Varieties purchased from drugstores may provide some protection, but they may not fit properly or provide the cushioning needed to protect your teeth.

Whether you get a nightguard from your dentist or purchase one over-the-counter, it’s important to make sure that you’re wearing it when you sleep. Wearing it nightly will help reduce pain and protect your teeth from further damage. Additionally, it’s important to keep up with regular dental visits so your dentist can monitor the effects of grinding on your teeth and provide additional treatment or counseling if needed. If you suffer from chronic pain or any other symptoms associated with TMJ disorder or bruxism, talk to your dentist about potential treatments. Nightguards can be an effective way to reduce the pain and damage associated with grinding, but they are not a cure-all.

Make an Appointment with Glacier Creek Dental

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort due to grinding your teeth, or if you clench and grind during your sleep, contact Glacier Creek Dental today. Our dentists can help assess the damage caused by bruxism and provide treatments and counseling to protect your teeth from further harm. We understand the importance of proper oral care and are always available to help you maintain healthy teeth and a comfortable smile. Contact us today for more information about nightguards and how our team can help provide relief from bruxism-related pain.