03/20/2023
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐
Clenching or grinding your teeth while you're asleep is pretty common among children and adults. But when it starts to cause headaches, tooth or jaw pain, or damage to your teeth, it's time to talk to your dentist about bruxism. A common treatment for sleep bruxism is a night guard. Learn more about sleep bruxism and night guards to protect your teeth.
Maybe this has happened to you: you wake up and immediately feel a headache. Or, you've noticed your jaw is a little sore, or perhaps you've even had chipped or lose teeth. These are common signs of bruxismโor teeth grinding. Thankfully, your dentist and dental hygienist are trained to look for signs of bruxism and help you with treatment. They may recommend a mouthguard/nightguard to wear at night, an easy way to protect your teeth from damage from grinding and clenching.
Nightguards cushion your teeth from the force of clenching and prevent the teeth from grinding together, preventing headaches, damaged teeth, and inflamed gums.
Learn about sleep bruxism and its characteristic signs and symptoms, and the popular forms of treatment by talking to us at your next visit, including night guards.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฆ๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ฟ๐๐
๐ถ๐๐บ?
If you frequently wake up with a headache, tooth, or jaw pain, you may want to ask your dentist if you have bruxism. According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, teeth grinding is common among children and adults at times. Still, if it's frequent enough to cause issues with your teeth or jaw, it's time to speak to a dental professional.
๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ฟ๐๐
๐ถ๐๐บ
Talk to your dentist about the following signs and symptoms:
* Chipped teeth
* Waking up with headaches
* Temporomandibular Joint Disorderโinflammation of the jaw due to clenching
* Taking antidepressants with paroxetine
* Chronic grinding
๐ฆ๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐๐ฟ๐๐
๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป
It is common for children to grind their teeth at some point, especially children under five. Most children outgrow teeth grinding without treatment, with no harm to their teeth. Still, your dentist may recommend treatment depending on the severity of the bruxism.
๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐
There are several ways to reduce the impact of bruxism on your oral health. One of the most common is a night guard: a mouthguard typically worn while sleeping. Some night guards are available without a prescription at most pharmacies. To use it, you boil it or microwave it (follow instructions), let it cool for a few seconds, and then gently bite it to shape it to your mouth.
๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐
Nightguards are also available from your dentist. Customized guards tend to be of a higher quality and are custom-made to your teeth. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, then send the resulting mold to a dental laboratory. This facility will create a custom-fitted night mouthguard for you. Your dentist will check the mouth guard's fit and make any necessary adjustments before you take it home. Typically a customized night guard is a more expensive device than ones purchased over-the-counter. Still, it can be more comfortable to wear.
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐ต๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ
It's best to put the mouthguard in just before sleeping. You can take it out as soon as you wake up. It should start feeling comfortable after wearing it for four to six weeks.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, you should wash your guard before and after each use. Rinse your mouthguard with clean, cold water or brush it with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Don't leave the night guard in a sunny spot or hot area. Don't wash it with hot water either, because the plastic could warp and no longer fit you properly. Store your mouthguard in a container and check it regularly. If you find that your guard feels loose or uncomfortable, it's probably time to replace it.
๐ข๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ต ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
If a night guard is uncomfortable, you can talk to your dentist about other treatment options:
1. Stress prevention: One of the leading causes of bruxism is anxiety. Taking time to unwind before bed can reduce your teeth clenching and grinding. You can read a book, do a bedtime yoga routine, or take a warm bath.
2. Keep a sleep log: A sleep log or diary includes when you went to bed when you woke up, and any time you were up during the night. Spending a few minutes in the evening and morning to reflect on sleep quality will help identify what may contribute to bruxism.
3. Change of diet or medication: Your dentist might recommend avoiding stimulants like caffeine because that can increase teeth grinding. Certain medications, like antidepressants, might also contribute to the issue. So, tell your dentist about medications you are taking so they can suggest an alternative if one is warranted.
The most important thing to know about bruxism is that it can be treated with your dental hygienist and dentist's help. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, you are not far away from finding relief.
