Prevent nighttime teeth grinding with custom-designed night guards from Calgary Dental Centers
Millions of people, adults and children alike, grind their teeth. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, can cause numerous problems such as tooth damage, chronic headaches, craniofacial pain, and TMJ syndrome. Nighttime bruxism is especially problematic because it often occurs without the individual realizing it. At Calgary Dental Centers, we provide custom-designed night guards to protect the teeth during sleep.
The problem with teeth grinding
The persistent grinding of teeth places a large amount of pressure on the teeth as well as the muscles and joints of the jaw. Often linked to stress, teeth grinding can occur for several reasons including misalignment of the teeth.
The most common problems linked to nighttime teeth grinding are:
- Excessive wear of the teeth
- Cracked or chipped teeth
- Increase in tooth sensitivity
- Jaw disorders such as TMJ syndrome
- Frequent headaches
- Sleep disruption
Diagnosing teeth grinding
If you have some of the symptoms of teeth grinding, it’s important to schedule an appointment for an evaluation. During this visit, the dentist will check for the signs of teeth grinding and may continue to monitor you through several visits to see if the symptoms are worsening. Your dentist will be assessing the following:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw
- Broken, damaged, or missing teeth
- Damage to the underlying tissue or bone
How custom-designed night guards reduce teeth grinding
Like sports mouthguards that protect the teeth during physical activity, night guards are a type of splint that will fit comfortably around the teeth to protect them from damage due to teeth grinding. The guard prevents night trauma by keeping the teeth separated. Our custom-designed night guards are made from impressions of your teeth to ensure they have a snug, yet comfortable fit to maximize effectiveness.
Lifestyle changes to reduce night grinding
In addition to using a custom-designed night guard from Calgary Dental Centers, there are also other steps you can take at home to improve symptoms.
- Practice stress reducing techniques – Try listening to soothing music or taking a bath at night to relax before going to sleep.
- Avoid overstimulation before bed – Try to avoid caffeine or alcohol before going to sleep.
- Develop a good sleep routine – This includes going to bed at the same time every night and making sure you get an adequate amount of rest.
- Maintain regular dental exams – This allows the dentist to identify potential signs of teeth grinding before it causes significant damage.
Call Calgary Dental Centers today at (403) 768-1339 to schedule an evaluation.
