Do you need a night guard?

Do you ever wake up with a sore jaw or tooth pain? This can be one of the most frequent symptoms of teeth grinding. Teeth grinding is also known as Bruxism often occurs while we are asleep can cause a range of oral health problems such as:

• Cracked or broken teeth

• Wear and tear of teeth and gums

• Strain on jaw joints and soft tissue

One of the most popular treatment options for this is a night guard. This is an appliance similar to a mouth guard that can be worn while sleeping. The process of making your night guard is simple and only requires a quick appointment where the dentist will take impressions of your teeth. These will then be sent off to our dental technicians for your custom night guard to be made. A night guard prevents the surfaces of your teeth from grinding together, therefore protecting them from any damage.

Other treatments for bruxism include:

• Stress/ anxiety management

Teeth grinding can sometimes be caused by stress. Thus, strategies to promote relaxation (e.g. meditation) may be useful in preventing the problem. A therapist of counsellor can be helpful in these cases.

• Behaviour change

If you discover that you grind your teeth early on, you may be able to consciously change this behaviour by practicing correct mouth and jaw positions. This can be advised by your dentist.

• Teeth alignment/ straightening

Crooked teeth or ones out of alignment can contribute to teeth grinding. Hence, corrective treatments such as braces and plates may help reduce this behaviour.

For further information or if you suspect that you grind your teeth at night, book in to see one of our dentists today!