How Can You Tell If You’re Grinding Your Teeth At Night?
Because most people grind their teeth while they’re sleeping, they
don’t notice the tell-tale signs of bruxism until it’s too late.
Unless your partner overhears you or you wake yourself while you do it, you
most likely won’t notice. In most cases, this condition goes
undiagnosed until it causes permanent dental damage. Here are some physical
signs to keep an eye out for at home:
- Grinding noises.
- A sore jaw when you wake up.
- Pain while chewing your food.
- Trouble staying asleep.
- Visibly worn-down teeth.
- Sensitive teeth due to eroded enamel.
- A dull headache when you wake up.
What Are Customized Nightguards?
The longer that bruxism goes unaddressed, the more you’re putting
yourself at risk of damaging your teeth. When you visit our office for your
routine checkup and cleaning, be sure to let us know if you’ve noticed
any of the symptoms that we listed above. We’ll conduct a thorough
examination of your mouth and let you know if a custom-crafted nightguard
that is specially fitted to your unique oral structure can benefit you.
The process of receiving your nightguard typically takes place over the
course of two appointments. During your first one, we’ll take
impressions of your mouth that will be sent to our dental laboratory as a
reference to craft your nightguard. They’ll create it using
high-quality materials that are durable and made to sustain regular use.
When we receive your nightguard, we’ll call you in to pick it up and
ensure that the fit is perfect. Each night you wear it, it will cushion your
muscles and teeth to prevent any jaw or face pain and preserve your tooth
enamel.
What Are The Benefits Of Getting A Nightguard From A Dentist?
Many patients wonder why it’s not a good idea to swing by their local
department store and pick up a one-size-fits-all nightguard. Although
they’re more convenient to attain, they won’t provide you with
proper protection and comfort. In some cases, they can even damage and
irritate your oral tissues. Although custom nightguards from your dentist have a higher upfront cost, they offer countless additional
benefits. Some of these include:
- Maximized protection courtesy of a precise, snug, and accurate fit.
- Headache prevention.
- Reduced muscle tension and pain.
- Protection from dental damage.
- Improved sleeping patterns.
- Long-term savings.
The best way to learn whether you can benefit from our customized
nightguards is to
contact our office
or schedule a consultation. Our team will be more than happy to discuss the
process, cost, and details with you.
How Do You Clean Nightguards For Bruxism?
Because you’ll be using your nightguard every day, it’s
important to clean it daily to prevent bacteria growth. Don’t use
scalding or hot water when you clean it, because it will warp the customized
shape of it. Other than that, here are some recommendations we offer for
daily and weekly sanitizing:
-
Each morning, rinse your nightguard with water and dry it before placing
it in its protective hard case.
-
Completely submerge your nightguard in a cup of hydrogen peroxide and let
it sit for a few minutes. Remove it and rinse it under lukewarm or cool
water. You can also sanitize the guard with denture cleaning tablets.
-
Always remember to place your nightguard back in its protective,
ventilated case whenever you’re not using it.
With regular care and cleaning, it will continue protecting your teeth for
years to come. For additional tips or recommendations, don’t hesitate
to ask our team when you come to pick yours up!