Benefits of Wearing a Night Guard for Grinding

A lot of people grind and clench their teeth, especially during the night. This condition is known as bruxism, and it's often related to stress. 

What can you do to minimize its impact on your oral health and how can a nightguard help? 

Here's what you should know. 
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So, What Is Bruxism

Teeth grinding, or bruxism is an involuntary act where you grind and clench your teeth. It can happen at any moment, but a high percentage of people experience it during sleep. 

Teeth grinding is related to the following situations:

• Stress and anxiety
• Sleep problems such as snoring or sleep apnea
• Certain medication 
• Drinking, smoking, caffeine, or drug use

Symptoms of teeth grinding are:

• You wake up during sleep due to loud and strong grinding 
• Your teeth are fractured, worn off, chipped, or loose
• Tooth pain and sensitivity
• A tight, painful jaw that might not lock properly 
• Sore jawbone, neck, and face
• Ear pain, even though it's not related to your ear
• Headaches 
• Bites on the inside of your cheeks
• Interrupted sleep

If you suspect you grind your teeth at night, check with your dentist to find the best solution and avoid further damage to your enamel and other health problems. 
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How Wearing a Night Guard Can Help 

One of the best things you can do to avoid damaging your teeth because of grinding is to start wearing a night guard at night. 

With a night guard, you will not only reduce the effects of teeth grinding, but the quality of your sleep will also considerably improve. 

Here are some of the benefits a night guard can offer:

• Protect Your Teeth

The damage that comes from grinding your teeth can increase over time. A night guard will prevent that and ensure that your enamel isn't affected anymore and your teeth don't get worn out or even chipped. 

• No More Headaches 

Since you are no longer pressing your teeth against each other with great force, then you can expect to experience fewer teeth grinding-related headaches. 

• No More Jaw Pain

When you clench your teeth, you are also putting a lot of pressure on your jaw muscles. You will notice that the jaw pain and tenderness will slowly go away after starting to wear a nightguard. 

• Better Sleep Quality 

You will start noticing how your sleep quality improves after wearing a night guard. No more sleep disruptions because of hard and loud clenching and grinding. You will finally be able to get a restful sleep.

• No More Snoring 

When you clench and grind your teeth, the airways are narrowed and your breathing gets affected, leading to snoring. Wearing a night guard will help you to breathe properly and snoring will no longer be an issue. 
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Is Bruxism Affecting Your Life? We Can Help! 

If you suffer from bruxism and want to put a stop to it, then you can come to our office for a check-up. We can recommend that you wear a night guard and determine the cause of your bruxism. Often, this issue is caused by misaligned teeth and we can help you treat it with proper orthodontic treatment. 

At Great Bay Orthodontics, we focus on offering personalized care to each patient. We always make sure that you get the best and right treatment for your needs. 

Contact us if you would like to visit us and schedule an appointment with Dr. John Walsh.