Bruxism Mouth Guard
You may need a custom mouth guard if you grind or clench your teeth when sleeping.
Do you wake up each morning with a sore jaw or pain around your cheeks? This could be a sign of a condition called bruxism, where you grind or clench your teeth at night.
Ignoring bruxism over time can lead not only to jaw pain but also erosion and cracking of the tooth enamel, plus weakening of your teeth.
In this Country Dental blog post, we will discuss the 5 key benefits of a custom mouth guard.
We’ll also explore why you should not only discuss bruxism mouth guards with your dentist, but also seriously consider a custom dental mouth guard for other conditions such as snoring, TMJ, or persistent clenching of your jaw. This is a good post on the Difference Between Bruxism and TMJ.
1. Get a Professionally Fit for Your Custom Night Guard
Most over-the-counter drug store mouth guards offer DIY fitting and require you to boil the mouth guard to soften it up and then bite down on the softened plastic to create your mold. This can be tricky if you have never done this before, and the process usually does not capture the best or most accurate mold of your bite.
While a custom sports mouth guard has been designed to fit your teeth perfectly and will provide protection while playing sports, it is not suitable and certainly not recommended to be worn at night while you sleep.
The best dental mouth guards are custom fitted to your mouth by your dentist for maximum comfort and effectiveness. Let your dentist take the most accurate mold of your mouth and bite so you get the best fitting and most comfortable custom mouth guard possible.
If you have invested in braces and orthodontic work, or have other serious dental considerations, you probably don’t want to be risking molding your own mouth guard at home just to save a little money. Have it done right by a qualified dentist.
2. Be Fitted with the Correct Type of Dental Mouth Guard
Did you know that when it comes to night mouth guards on the market, there is a wide range available that are made from all different types of materials?
For example, a mouth guard for teeth grinding is typically a laminate with a hard exterior and softer interior. If you are a heavy grinder, your custom teeth grinding mouth guard may be made from acrylic in order to withstand the powerful force your jaw is capable of exerting.
On the other hand, a custom mouth guard for clenching teeth is often made from a softer rubber material to reduce the impact of a clenched jaw. Depending on your individual bruxism symptoms, our Fergus and Toronto dentists can recommend the best type of dental night guard for you.
3. Get A Professional Assessment of Your Needs
Not only will our dental professionals assess your bruxism and the best type of mouth guard for your individual needs, but your dentist will also check how your customized bruxism mouth guard fits in your mouth. If it is not quite right they can make adjustments. It is not possible to adjust or custom fit mouth guards that you order online or purchase in a drug store. There is no way of knowing if these over-the-counter mouth guards will even fit properly and provide the right level of protection against you grinding or clenching your teeth.
4. A Dentist Offers Ongoing Checks for Jaw & Bite Changes
Through regular dental exams, your dentist can monitor how your jaw is changing and if there are any significant changes in your bite that may affect the requirements of your dental mouth guard. Additionally, Country Dental in Fergus and Toronto would be happy to tell you about other strategies you can use to help you deal with bruxism problems.
5. Get Financial Support for the Cost of Mouth Guards
Although most dental insurance plans do not cover the cost of a custom mouth guard, at Country Dental we offer dental financing through PayBright. We can help you get instant approval for a payment plan that works for you. This means you can start bruxism treatment right away rather than having to wait. Remember, the longer you wait to address grinding your teeth and bruxism, the more possible damage that can be done.
Learn more about TMJ and Bruxism and how a custom mouth guard can help remedy these conditions.
Rather than putting up with jaw pain and the discomfort of bruxism, it could be time to talk to our Toronto and Fergus dentists at Country Dental. We can explain the benefits of a custom mouth guard for sleeping (also called a dental night guard or mouth guard); to help you sleep and stop grinding and clenching your teeth.
You can also contact Country Dental at our dental clinic closest to you:
Toronto Dental Clinic – 416-335-7377
Fergus Dental Clinic – 519-620-7474
Fergus Dental Clinic – 519-787-7878
For updates, please follow us @CountryDental on twitter and/or like us on Facebook.
Here is another article related to Sports Mouth Guard
You may also like this article by Medical News Today called What Is Bruxism, or Teeth Grinding.
Grinding Teeth FAQs
What is another name for teeth grinding?
Teeth grinding is also known as bruxism.
What is teeth grinding?
Teeth grinding or bruxism may involve clenching your teeth while awake or clenching and grinding your teeth while asleep.
Is teeth grinding bad?
While teeth grinding isn’t known to cause serious health issues, if left untreated it may damage your teeth and dental work or lead to tension headaches, jaw pain (TMJ), and tinnitus,
Is teeth grinding genetic?
Yes, bruxism or teeth grinding does appear to run in families indicating that it may also be genetic.
When does teeth grinding happen?
The exact cause of teeth grinding isn’t known but contributing factors include stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, anatomy of the jaw, and certain stimulants like smoking, alcohol, and caffeine.
Can teeth grinding cause tinnitus?
Teeth grinding can put a lot of stress on your jaw and temporomandibular joints (TMJ joints) and affect the nearby ear muscles thereby causing tinnitus or ringing in the ears.
Can teeth grinding cause cavities?
Teeth grinding does compromise the integrity of your tooth enamel and may contribute to tooth damage including tooth decay and cavities.
Can teeth grinding cause headaches?
Teeth grinding causes tension headaches affecting the scalp and neck muscles.
Who do you see for teeth grinding?
If you suffer from teeth grinding you can get help from your dentist or your medical doctor.
How to prevent teeth grinding?
Most children outgrow teeth grinding however for adults, reducing stress, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and relaxing exercise may help to prevent teeth grinding (bruxism).
Is a mouth guard good for teeth grinding and sleep apnea?
Teeth grinding can also contribute to sleep apnea in some patients. Wearing a mouth guard helps to keep the teeth separated and open up the airway.
