You Might Need A Nightguard

Do you wake up with headaches or jaw pain? What about neck and shoulder pain? Do you have sore teeth, or do they feel loose in the morning? These are common symptoms of bruxism, which is the clinical term for excessive teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Bruxism mostly happens during sleep, and the aftereffects can cause undue wear on your teeth and alter your bite. 

Bruxism Explained
Teeth grinding or clenching in your sleep may happen because of stress or a sleep disorder, but it can also result from a misaligned bite. You may feel the discomfort bruxism causes during the day, which can seriously impact your overall well-being.

What Can You Do?

To relieve your symptoms and prevent long-term damage to your teeth, we may recommend that you wear a dental appliance called a nightguard while you sleep. A nightguard fits over your teeth and stops you from grinding them in your sleep. It also keeps your jaws apart. A nightguard can help prevent several harmful effects of bruxism, including dental damage like chipped or fractured teeth and damage to your jaw joints TMJ). Your nightguard, should you need one, will be custom made for you in our dental office.

Benefits Of a Nightguard

In addition to relieving the symptoms of bruxism, there are several other benefits to wearing a nightguard.

• Better sleep — People who clench their teeth at night find it difficult to fall asleep because their muscles are tense. A nightguard encourages your jaw muscles to relax, which helps your whole body rest. 
• Reduced snoring — Snoring is linked to grinding and clenching teeth. The natural space a nightguard leaves between your teeth improves air intake, which makes breathing easier and reduces snoring.
• Less pain — We will custom make a nightguard to fit your teeth and reduce the stress on your jaw joints and muscles. Nightguards are made to relieve the pain and strain in your jaw when you have bruxism.

If you have noticed any of these symptoms and suspect you may need a nightguard, give us a call to schedule an appointment in our office located in West Chester, OH. Together, we can relieve those symptoms and get you the care you need.