Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can have detrimental effects on your smile. The pressure on the teeth can remove enamel and damage the teeth. If you have bruxism and want to protect your teeth, jaw and oral health, a dental nightguard may be the general dentistry solution. At Green Meadow Dental, we offer a nightguard for bruxism – teeth grinding at our dental center in Newington, CT.
Your jaw muscles have incredible strength. These muscles are designed to grind and chew tough foods, but they can do extensive damage if there is nothing between the upper and lower teeth. When you clench your jaw from stress or grind your teeth while sleeping, that pressure is placed directly on the teeth and jaw joint. This can result in worn enamel, tooth fractures, damaged fillings and jaw joint disorders.
While you can manage jaw clenching and grinding while you are awake, you may need help preventing it at night. To keep the upper and lower teeth separated, wearing a dental nightguard can be an effective bruxism treatment.
Customized Mouthguard for Bruxism
A customized dental nightguard can protect your teeth and jaw while you sleep. Our dentist can design a customized mouthguard from special plastic that will fit comfortably between your teeth. This device is made specifically for your teeth and jaw, stopping teeth grinding while sleeping. Dental mouthguards can also help other oral sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnea.
You can find over-the-counter mouthguards that may look similar to a dental nightguard. While they are similar, they do not have the fit and comfort of a customized nightguard designed by your dentist. It is worth the investment to have a device that is designed for you and your specific oral health needs.
Bruxism can cause painful and expensive damage to your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and your teeth. A custom dental nightguard is a worthwhile purchase to prevent oral problems and protect your smile. To learn more about bruxism treatment, contact us at Green Meadow Dental in Newington, CT, to schedule a teeth grinding treatment consultation.
