Nightguards
Symptoms of Bruxism
While some symptoms of bruxism are easier to notice on your own, it’s a condition that often goes undiagnosed. This is why routine appointments to our office are so crucial for preventing damaged to your enamel. If you notice one or more of the following symptoms below, please give our office a call and schedule an exam. We’ll be able to confirm if bruxism is present and provide treatment from there. These symptoms include:
- Teeth grinding and clenching, which may be loud enough to wake yourself up
- Worn tooth enamel which exposes the deeper layers of your teeth
- Teeth that appear flat, fractured, chipped or even loose
- Tooth pain
- Tooth sensitivity
- Jaw muscles that feel tight
- Locked jaw or a jaw that won’t close or open properly
- Pain or soreness in your jaw and/or neck
- Chronic headaches or migraines, typically stemming from the temples
- Earaches
- Damaged inner cheek tissue
- Disruptions in your sleep
How Nightguards Make a Difference
Nightguards are plastic oral appliances designed to counter the effects of chronic teeth grinding. They are specifically intended for use while sleeping, but there are many types of mouthguards available for specific purposes. Sportsguards are meant for use while playing contact sports like football or basketball. There are also mouthguards designed to open the airway for patients who have obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that makes it difficult to breathe while sleeping. When you have a nightguard that covers your teeth and acts as a cushion for chronic grinding and clenching, you prevent future permanent damage to your teeth and stop tension in your jaw, head, neck and shoulders.
Why a Custom-Made Nightguard is the Way to Go
You may have seen nightguards sold in your local grocery store or pharmacy in the past, but the dentists at Blossom Smiles Dental Dentistry ask that you consider a few facts about these products. While they may be cheap, you are truly getting what you pay for in terms of long-term quality. Not only is the material in these products weaker, but they are not customized to fit your teeth exactly like dentist-created solutions. This means they will not offer optimal comfort and will likely need to be replaced after a short period of time. If your goal is to protect your smile all of the time, not just some of the time, we can create a custom nightguard that fits your smile perfectly.