If you are someone who wakes up to chronic jaw pain or feelings of exhaustion after an apparently good night sleep you may be experiencing the results of clenching or grinding your teeth at night.
This condition, also known as bruxism, can occur in both children and adults and can cause serious long term damage to both your teeth and jaw alignment.
While not a serious problem for many individuals, chronic clenching and/or grinding the teeth can lead to a wide variety of health issues such as: tooth sensitivity, loss of enamel, or worn-out and fractured teeth.
Many find that the use of a night guard an effective way to prevent further damage to their teeth.
It is not completely understood why bruxism occurs in certain individuals but most agree that stress is often a contributing factor.
While there is much you can do to alter your stress levels while you are awake, such as the simple practice of placing the tongue to the roof of your mouth to prevent clenching, it is far more difficult to do so while asleep.
This is why a night guard is so often the most prescribed preventative to protect both teeth and jaws when the bruxer has no control over his or her actions.
While there are many over the counter night guards they are not considered nearly as effective as those which are custom-made.
It is often while during a visit to the dentist that you may be first alerted to the problems your bruxism is causing in your mouth.
A dentist will fit you with a custom-made night guard by making an impression (or mold) of your teeth; these bite guards do not come cheap, but the alternative is far more costly.
While these guards do not cure your bruxism, they are very effective at preventing any more damage done to the protective enamel surrounding your teeth.
There are many things you can do to help curb this distressing and damaging habit such as meditation, facial exercises, and dietary changes.
But in the meantime it is important to protect your teeth from anymore ongoing damage.
In its most severe form bruxism can cause tooth loss and even facial changes over time.
Wearing a quality well-fitting night guard is your first step to protecting one of your most important assets: your teeth.
This condition, also known as bruxism, can occur in both children and adults and can cause serious long term damage to both your teeth and jaw alignment.
While not a serious problem for many individuals, chronic clenching and/or grinding the teeth can lead to a wide variety of health issues such as: tooth sensitivity, loss of enamel, or worn-out and fractured teeth.
Many find that the use of a night guard an effective way to prevent further damage to their teeth.
It is not completely understood why bruxism occurs in certain individuals but most agree that stress is often a contributing factor.
While there is much you can do to alter your stress levels while you are awake, such as the simple practice of placing the tongue to the roof of your mouth to prevent clenching, it is far more difficult to do so while asleep.
This is why a night guard is so often the most prescribed preventative to protect both teeth and jaws when the bruxer has no control over his or her actions.
While there are many over the counter night guards they are not considered nearly as effective as those which are custom-made.
It is often while during a visit to the dentist that you may be first alerted to the problems your bruxism is causing in your mouth.
A dentist will fit you with a custom-made night guard by making an impression (or mold) of your teeth; these bite guards do not come cheap, but the alternative is far more costly.
While these guards do not cure your bruxism, they are very effective at preventing any more damage done to the protective enamel surrounding your teeth.
There are many things you can do to help curb this distressing and damaging habit such as meditation, facial exercises, and dietary changes.
But in the meantime it is important to protect your teeth from anymore ongoing damage.
In its most severe form bruxism can cause tooth loss and even facial changes over time.
Wearing a quality well-fitting night guard is your first step to protecting one of your most important assets: your teeth.