How to Protect Your Teeth Even While You Sleep
Do you ever wake up with a sore jaw, wondering what happened overnight to make it feel that way? Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can cause permanent damage to your smile. Luckily, there’s a way to protect your teeth even when you’re fast asleep: nightguards. While most people associate mouthguards with contact sports, you can also wear a nightguard while you sleep to protect your teeth from the effects of teeth grinding.
Learn more about teeth grinding and how you can get a custom nightguard made for you right here at Three Creek Dentistry.
What Is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a scientific term for teeth grinding. We most commonly grind our teeth in our sleep. Stress and anxiety are the main drivers of teeth grinding, but there are other reasons why we might grind our teeth in our sleep, including:
- Sleep apnea
- Bite misalignment and crooked teeth
- Other sleep disorders
Of course, it’s not always easy to tell if you grind your teeth in your sleep. But here are some of the common signs of teeth grinding:
- Sore jaw when you wake up
- Tension headache
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- TMJ/TMD
How to Treat Bruxism
Some easy ways to help your bruxism is avoiding caffeine and alcohol, chewing strictly on food items and not objects like pens and pencils, and doing a hot compress on your jaw with a warm washcloth to relax your muscles.
We can also create a custom nightguard to help provide a barrier for your teeth while you sleep. A custom nightguard is especially effective compared to over-the-counter ones because they fit snugly over your teeth, providing utmost comfort and protection. Plus, our nightguards are made using durable materials so they won’t wear down easily.
When you wear your nightguard depends on your situation. You can do so nightly, or occasionally if you find that your bruxism comes and goes. A custom nightguard is comfortable enough to wear nightly.
Affordable Custom Nightguards in Derwood, Maryland
Don’t let bruxism damage your beautiful smile! Our staff would love to work with you to create a custom mouthguard that protects your teeth without damaging your budget. We also offer services to treat TMJ/TMD and sleep apnea. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!