NIGHT GUARD OCCLUSAL APPLIANCES IN MOBILE, AL
NIGHT GUARD
If you have been experiencing jaw pain, tooth pain, and/or headaches when you first wake up in the morning, or if your spouse has told you that you grind your teeth in your sleep, you may be suffering from a condition called bruxism. It can be difficult to prevent bruxism (as you often do it while sleeping), but there are ways to prevent the pain and damage to your teeth caused by bruxism—namely, a night guard.
WHAT IS BRUXISM?
Bruxism, put simply, is when you grind or clench your teeth. Most people clench or grind their teeth while they are asleep at night; however, some individuals may have a daytime habit due to a stressful job or lifestyle. While this may seem like an obvious disorder to get treated, it can actually be pretty tricky, since more often than not, you are sleeping when it happens.
Many people will go day-to-day, wondering why their jaw, teeth, or head are hurting, without realizing that it is because of something that is going on while they are asleep.
This is why it’s extremely important to see your dentist if you start to experience pain of any kind with your teeth or jaw. While you may eventually figure out that something is going on while you’re sleeping, it may be a little too late.
WHAT DOES BRUXISM DO TO YOUR HEALTH?
The reason why it’s important to catch bruxism as early as possible is because of the damage that grinding your teeth and/or clenching your jaw can cause.
Some of these oral health problems may include:
- Jaw Pain
- Fractured or Cracked Teeth
- Worn Teeth
- Headaches
- Joint Pain
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Muscle Pain and Fatigue
If your bruxism isn’t treated, you also run the risk of developing TMJ disorder, which can bring the difficulties that you are having to another level.
WHAT IS TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER (TMJ)?
When the temporomandibular joint of your jaw becomes unhinged, it causes inflammation and injury. This disorder is known as TMJ or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. TMJ disorder can lead to a lot of pain and damage to the teeth and jaw if untreated.
Some of the causes of TMJ disorder include:
- Dislocation of the Cushioning Disc
- Arthritis
- Bruxism
- Whiplash or Blunt Trauma to the Jaw
By the time you develop TMJ disorder, you’ll know that there is something wrong. As soon as you start to notice the symptoms of TMJ disorder, you’ll want to set an appointment with your dentist immediately.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF TMJ DISORDER?
When you develop TMJ disorder, you’ll notice a variety of painful symptoms. These include:
- Lockjaw
- Jaw Fatigue
- Trouble with Chewing
- Popping or Clicking Noises in the Joints of the Jaw
- Pain in Your Jaw, Face, Neck, and Even Shoulders, While Yawning, Speaking, or Chewing Food
- Teeth Sensitivity
- Symptoms Associated with Bruxism
While these symptoms can be extremely painful, both Bruxism and TMJ disorder are treatable—as is the damage that has been caused to your jaw and teeth. Sadly, though, if you’ve let the issue persist for too long, you may not be able to restore your teeth to their natural state. Instead, you may need to have crowns, bonding, or other dental cosmetics placed. This is a major reason why you need to see your dentist as soon as you start to feel the symptoms listed above. With enough notice and proper treatment, you can still save the integrity of your teeth and jaw.
HOW TO HELP TREAT BRUXISM
While a trip to your dentist is extremely important when you start to experience these symptoms, there are a few things that you can do to help treat bruxism before any major damage is done.
These include:
- Cutting Down On Caffeine Intake
- Jaw Relaxation Techniques
- Anxiety and Stress Management
Keep in mind that these suggestions may help to slow down the damage caused by bruxism, but you’ll still want to make sure that your bruxism is properly treated by a dentist. It’s also important to note that in many cases, bruxism is brought on by stress. Because of this, you’ll want to consider meeting with a mental health professional to see what your options are for handling the stress and/or anxiety that may be manifesting in the form of grinding or clenching your teeth at night.
HOW ARE BRUXISM AND TMJ DISORDERS TREATED?
First and foremost, in order to treat either bruxism or TMJ disorder, you’ll want to set an appointment with your dentist. They will then examine you to see if you have these conditions and what your treatment plan will look like. Both treatments will likely involve a night guard/occlusal guard.
WHAT IS A NIGHT GUARD/OCCLUSAL GUARD?
An occlusal guard (also known as a “night guard”) is a plastic guard that helps to protect your teeth at night from grinding or clenching. The occlusal guard also helps to position your jaw joint in a more stable, relaxed position.
HOW TO GET A NIGHT GUARD
The first step towards getting your custom night guard is visiting your dentist for a proper diagnosis of bruxism or a TMJ disorder. Once your condition is diagnosed, you’ll be custom-fitted for a night guard or splint, which will be fabricated for you. Once the custom guard or splint has been produced, you will visit your dentist to pick it up. From there, with daily use, you’ll be able to rest easy.
In order to address the underlying issue, you’ll want to consider different stress management techniques. If you have started to address the underlying condition and you feel you no longer need the guard, speak with your dentist. Until then, though, continue to wear the guard.
A night guard or splint will help to protect your teeth and jaw and ensure you sleep more easily.
If you are interested in learning more, contact West Mobile Dental Care today at (251) 666-3600 or through our contact form.