30 Nov The Benefits of Using A Mouth Guard and Why You May Need One
Have you ever woken up with a headache, a tight jaw, or a sore face? These all may be signs of a condition called bruxism–otherwise known as teeth grinding or clenching. It is actually a very common condition and oftentimes occurs at night while people sleep. Bruxism is caused by many factors; sometimes caffeine and stress can increase chances of developing this condition. If you are bothered by jaw or tooth pain, you might have bruxism and not even realize it!
Complications Caused By Bruxism
We all understand how important it is to have regular dental care, even if we don’t always follow through with it. At Medical Arts Dental, we know how to help with bruxism. If you are coming in for regular teeth maintenance, your dentist can catch bruxism before it causes more serious problems like tooth fractures and TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) . An article from the American Academy of Oral Medicine goes into detail about bruxism and what complication can result from this uncomfortable problem. Dentists are always on the lookout for teeth wear and jaw displacement that result from grinding or clenching teeth.
The Solution to Bruxism
The good news is there’s a solution to bruxism. The professionals at Medical Arts Dental are experts in creating custom mouth guards to protect you and your teeth, even while you sleep. Occlusal guards are lab fabricated and designed to keep teeth separated to avoid the damage caused by clenching and grinding. They can be constructed of hard acrylic or soft materials and fit over your upper or lower teeth. It’s really up to your dentist to help you decide the severity of your condition and which kind of mouth guard will help you the best.
Benefits Of A Mouth Guard
There are many benefits of getting an occlusal mouth guard made by your dentist. They can be custom fit and adjusted to your bite by your dentist. Especially if you invest in a hard acrylic mouth guard to protect your teeth, your dentist can make small adjustments by grinding some of the material from the guard to get the perfect fit. When you have a mouth guard that fits perfectly, it alleviates the symptoms of bruxism and you will no longer wake up with discomfort because of your teeth. Not only that, but your teeth will be protected from further damage. Now that’s something to smile about!
If you want to learn more about mouth guards from Medical Arts Dental, contact our team .