Teeth Grinding: What You Should Know

Teeth Grinding: What You Should Know

Teeth Grinding: What You Should Know

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What You Should Know About Teeth Grinding

Have you ever woken up with a sore jaw or a headache? Or maybe your partner has complained about the sound of your teeth grinding at night. If so, you might be grinding your teeth, also known as bruxism. Teeth grinding can cause a range of dental issues, including tooth sensitivity, cracked or chipped teeth, and even jaw pain. This blog post will discuss everything you need to know about teeth grinding, including the causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Causes of Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding can be caused by several factors such as anxiety, stress, or sleep disorders. Often, it can be difficult for people to identify the cause of their grinding as it happens while they are asleep. People with an abnormal bite or crooked teeth can also grind their teeth. Additionally, grinding can occur due to side effects from medication.

Symptoms of Teeth Grinding

The most common symptoms of teeth grinding include jaw pain, excessive tooth wear, headache, earache, and facial pain. Some people with bruxism may also experience restless sleep and difficulty opening the mouth. If you suspect you are grinding your teeth, it is essential to visit a dentist near you.

Treatment Options

Dentists can create a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth from grinding. The mouthguard is a custom-fit device that is placed over your teeth while you sleep. It effectively reduces the pressure on your teeth and helps minimize the effects of grinding. Additionally, stress-reducing exercises, physical therapy, and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol can also help reduce grinding. Dentists can also correct the bite of the teeth by moving the teeth to the correct position using Invisalign or traditional braces.

Preventative Measures

It is essential to practice good oral hygiene and maintain regular dental checkups to prevent teeth grinding. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco also helps to reduce the risk of bruxism. Additionally, limiting stress and finding ways to manage your anxiety can make a significant difference. Physical activity or exercise helps to release tension and anxiety, reducing the chances of teeth grinding.

Grinding your teeth isn’t just uncomfortable, but it can also lead to long-lasting dental problems. However, it is preventable and treatable. If you suspect you suffer from bruxism, visit Dr. Mit at Mableton Family Dentistry to explore your treatment options. By taking preventative measures such as practicing good oral hygiene and stress management, you can significantly reduce the risks of teeth grinding. 

Should I Wear A Night Guard

Should I Wear A Night Guard

Should I Wear A Night Guard?

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The Benefits of Wearing a Night Guard

If you’re experiencing jaw pain, headaches, or difficulty sleeping due to grinding or clenching your teeth, then you may want to consider wearing a night guard. A night guard is a dental appliance that fits over the top and bottom teeth to protect them from damage caused by grinding and clenching. At Mableton Family Dentistry in Mableton GA, we recommend wearing a night guard for many of our patients who suffer from these problems. Let’s look at how wearing a night guard can help improve your sleep and oral health.

Better Sleep Quality

A night guard provides cushioning between your upper and lower teeth in order to prevent damage caused by clenching or grinding your teeth during the night. This makes it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep because you no longer have the pressure on your jaw. It also helps reduce snoring because it keeps your airways open while you sleep which can decrease the number of times you wake up throughout the night.

Protection Against Tooth Damage

The purpose of wearing a night guard is to protect against tooth damage caused by grinding or clenching your teeth at night. Your dentist in Mableton GA can customize this appliance so that it fits comfortably in your mouth without being too tight or loose. Having a custom-fitted appliance will ensure that all of your teeth are properly protected from any kind of trauma or stress that may occur during the night.

Reduced Jaw Pain

When people clench their jaws at night, they often experience pain in their jaw muscles due to the strain put on them when they grind and clench their teeth together for extended periods of time. Wearing a properly fitted mouthguard helps reduce this pain by providing cushioning between the upper and lower teeth, allowing them to move freely without putting excess strain on any one muscle group in particular. By reducing this tension, wearing a mouthguard can help alleviate nighttime jaw ache and morning headaches caused by clenching and grinding one’s teeth while asleep.

Bruxism Prevention

Bruxism is an unconscious habit where people grind or clench their teeth excessively while they are sleeping, which can lead to significant dental damage over time if left untreated. Wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard can help prevent bruxism as it prevents direct contact between the upper and lower teeth while providing cushioning between them as well. This means that even if someone does unconsciously grind their teeth at night, there will be less trauma inflicted on their teeth since they won’t be directly contacting each other with such force as before.

Contact Mableton Family Dentistry Today!

Wearing a nighttime mouthguard is an effective way to protect your smile from damage associated with tooth grinding and clenching while sleeping. Not only does it provide protection against tooth wear but it also reduces pain associated with bruxism-related jaw discomfort, making it much easier for you to get quality restful sleep each night without having any negative effects on your oral health. If you think you could benefit from wearing a nightly mouthguard, please contact us to come visit us at Mableton Family Dentistry in Mableton GA for more information about our custom-fitted mouthguards today!