WHAT IS A NIGHTGUARD?

Before we talk about nightguards let's understand what is bruxism.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a condition where a person subconsciously grinds their teeth while they are asleep or awake. When you grind your teeth, the jaw clenches, and your teeth rub against each other. Over time, this grinding and clenching motion can cause the teeth to wear down or develop cracks. The clenching of your jaw strains your jaw muscles, which gives you headaches and jaw pain when you wake up.

What is a Night Guard?

Since bruxism is a subconscious activity, you need some protecting guard that can protect your teeth, TMJ, and adjoining structures from damage, and that protecting guard is called a Nightguard. The design of a night guard is such that it fits over your teeth. Made from durable yet cushiony material, the night guard prevents your teeth from touching at night. Therefore, you no longer grind your teeth.

Another way a night guard helps ease the pain is by reducing the amount that your jaw can clench. By preventing complete flexing of the jaw, a night guard helps your jaw to be more relaxed at night.

Why You Might Need a Night Guard

You might grind your teeth without realizing it. Watch out for the most frequently reported symptoms of bruxism. Common signs that you might have bruxism include:

  1. A partner hearing you grinding your teeth at night
  2. Waking up unrefreshed from a full night of sleep or frequently waking at night
  3. Jaw pain in the morning
  4. Referred pain that feels like an earache without problems in your ear
  5. Morning headaches upon waking
  6. Tooth pain or extra sensitivity without any cavities or erosion
  7. Worn tooth enamel
  8. Cracks or wear on the surfaces of teeth

Benefits of a Night Guard

When you wear your night guard regularly, you’ll begin to experience the following benefits:

1. Prevents Tooth Damage like worn enamel, cracks in teeth, teeth sensitivity, etc.

2. Helps Prevent Morning Headaches

3. Eases Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

You can get better sleep and wake up without pain. Contact us at PRECIOUS 32 DENTAL and in just 2 appointments get a custom-fit night guard fabricated and imagine a life without morning headaches or jaw pain.

Sleep Better with a Custom Night Guard made by Our Experts at Precious 32 Dental.

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