Bite Guard
You often wake up with a headache. You have an aching jaw. Your teeth are sore. These are just some of the signs of sleep bruxism, a common condition that can lead to serious dental damage. The good news: Bruxism – more familiarly known as teeth grinding – is easily treatable with a customized bite guard from Bethesda Family Dental in Bethesda, MD.
Problems Caused by Sleep Bruxism
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but teeth are meant to cut food, not gnash against each other. Teeth grinding against each other exerts incredible pressure and can lead to serious discomfort and dental problems including:
- Worn tooth enamel
- Cracked or broken teeth
- Receding gums
- Deteriorating dental work
- Popping jaw joints
- Chronic earaches
- Neck and shoulder pain
Teeth grinding can even reverberate throughout the upper body, causing discomfort in the ears, head, neck, and shoulders. Sleep bruxism is an easily misdiagnosed condition, sometimes mistaken for anxiety, depression, earaches, sleep disorders, or joint problems, when a simple customized teeth grinding guard could solve many ills.
Common Causes of Teeth Grinding
Bruxism is a common sleep disorder, causing most of its damage during your sleeping hours, whether at night or during a nap. The chewing reflex malfunctions and leads to clenching and grinding of teeth, causing problems that not only wake you at night or show up in dental deterioration but settle uncomfortably in the body throughout each day.
Many people need a bruxism night guard because they have chronic teeth grinding, others only have a grinding and clenching problem periodically. Either way, support for your oral health is necessary to save you from damage and pain and the need for restorative dental care. If you have any of the dental problems noted above, reach out to your Bethesda dentist as a valued resource to find out if you have chronic bruxism because of:
- TMJ problems
- Misalignment
- Bite abnormalities
- Sleep apnea
- Extreme stress
- Missing teeth
Oral health can quickly deteriorate when bruxism goes untreated. The simplest and most effective course of action is to be fitted for a bruxism night guard or sleep teeth guard, whatever you prefer to c all it. Then, you and your dentist can discuss whether additional measures will correct the problem permanently, like Invisalign treatment or dental implants.
Benefits of a Teeth Grinding Guard
Bite guards are preventive dentistry. They protect your teeth from themselves and save you from needing unwanted dental work or repeat dental work that has suffered damage. Simply wearing this appliance every night can:
- Save you from painful side effects of teeth grinding and clenching
- Protect teeth from deterioration
- Prevent serious and costly dental problems
- Stop inflammation and pressure
This one simple appliance helps patients avoid the discomfort of many oral health complications and all the associated costs. Customized for your mouth, this full-coverage teeth grinding guard worn on the top teeth protects both the upper and lower teeth from each other.
A bite guard’s characteristics:
- Clear plastic
- Durable
- Snug-fitting
- Comfortable
- Smooth
- Works instantly
Is a Bite Guard Right for You?
When it comes to customized dental appliances, a bite guard is incredibly affordable, especially when you consider how much its presence can save you from future dental problems. Don’t be tempted by over-the-counter boil-and-bite solutions – these can actually cause more complications for the wearer because of poor fit and function. A personalized bite guard from your Bethesda dentist is strong and meticulously designed just for your mouth, ultimately saving you expense and discomfort.
If you suspect that you’re grinding your teeth at night and want to know more about bite guards, schedule a consultation with the dental team at Bethesda Family Dental. Allow us to help save you from pain, make it possible for you to get a good night’s sleep, and maintain your oral health.
