How Night Guards Prevent Teeth Grinding

Do you often wake up with jaw or tooth pain? If so, you could be grinding and clenching your teeth in your sleep without even being aware of it. This is due to a condition called bruxism. The good news is that our dentist can create a custom night guard for you to wear while you sleep. A night guard is an oral appliance that stops the upper and lower teeth from being able to make contact.

Here are some common questions we get from patients in regards to night guards and teeth grinding.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the technical term for teeth grinding. If left untreated, the force exerted from teeth grinding will overwork your jaw muscles and cause you to wake up feeling sore. While bruxism destroys your teeth, it’s often done unconsciously. In fact, many people are unaware they have bruxism until they’re told by their dentist. The sound of teeth grinding can also be enough to wake your partner.

Teeth grinding can cause:

If you recognize any of the above symptoms (especially those that happen when you wake up), call our office to schedule your appointment. The longer you wait to see a dentist, the more likely you’ll need crowns, veneers, and other tooth restorations to repair your smile. A teeth grinding guard saves you money in the long run by reducing your need for restorative dentistry.

How Will My Night Guard Be Made?

During your first appointment with us, our dentist will take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab. When you return to our office, your night guard will be waiting. Our dentist may make slight adjustments to the fit of the night guard so you can breathe and sleep comfortably.

How Does a Night Guard Work?

If you’re waking up in pain, you’re not getting the deep quality sleep you need to stay energized and focused during the day. Fortunately, our dentist will be able to create a custom night guard to protect your smile while you sleep.

A dental night guard is a removable oral appliance that forms a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth. While a sports mouth guard is worn while playing contact sports, a night guard is worn while you sleep.

A dental night guard will help get rid of the headaches you’ve had upon waking as well as any jaw pain. Many of our patients appreciate being able to get a good night’s sleep without waking up groggy and in pain.

Should I Get a Night Guard?

If you have bruxism, we highly recommend you get a night guard as soon as possible. Not only does a teeth grinding guard protect your oral health, but it prevents you from needing extensive dental work.

The forces exerted on your teeth from bruxism are strong enough to wear away enamel, as well as crack or loosen teeth. A mouth guard for teeth grinding will protect your smile so you won’t need restorative dental care.

Request an Appointment With Us

Our dentist provides night guards and other dental services so you can maintain good oral health. To request an appointment with our Grand Rapids dentist, call Renew Family Dental at (616) 245-3205.

This blog post has been updated.