Teeth Grinding 101: Do I Need a Mouth Guard?

Bruxism is the officially terminology used to describe teeth grinding. Children as well as adults can grind their teeth while sleeping which can result in oral health issues. If you wake up and have a dull headache, pain in your teeth or sore jaw, you may be grinding your teeth. A common way to alleviate the issue is to use a night guard, which can be fitted for your mouth by a dentist. Learning more about teeth grinding and how to fix the condition will help you to learn what to do if you are subject to the condition.

Night Guard Application

If you feel that you are grinding your teeth at night, visit the dentist. Have your teeth and gums reviewed and the dentist can then suggest a treatment, such as a night guard. The appliance will be of high quality and fit well inside your mouth.

An impression of your mouth is taken and then a laboratory will create the appliance based on the impression. This helps to make the mouth guard more comfortable for you to wear. The night guard will help to prevent your teeth from chipping or cracking as well as any jaw muscle strain.

Teeth can easily be chipped or cracked when they are grinding together night after night. Your jaw muscles may also feel sore when you wake up due to the motion in your sleep.