Waking up with a sore jaw, headaches, or sensitive teeth may not seem like too big a problem, but they could be early signs that you may need more care while you sleep. People may not realize the consequences of grinding or clenching their teeth until it becomes painful (or too expensive to fix). This is where night guards in Calgary come in. A night guard can be an easy and effective way to protect your smile while you sleep.
What is a Night Guard?
A night guard is a custom-made appliance that you wear while you sleep, which sits between your upper and lower teeth, providing a barrier between them when you accidentally grind your teeth together. Although this small device may be simple, it can provide great benefits to you in protecting your teeth, reducing discomfort, and improving the quality of your sleep.
Signs You May Need a Night Guard
It is not always apparent when you grind your teeth. Typically, teeth grinding occurs at night while sleeping. Although not always obvious, there are definite symptoms that can indicate teeth grinding has become an issue:
- Morning jaw pain or tightness – Teeth grinding puts a constant load on the muscles of your jaw, and when you wake up, they are sore.
- Headaches – Tension headaches are undoubtedly a symptom of teeth clenching. This is particularly true in the mornings.
- Worn-down teeth – Teeth that are shortened, worn flat, or chipped may be evidence of excessive grinding.
- Tooth sensitivity – Teeth grinding or clenching will wear down enamel, and you may notice more sensitivity when you are eating or drinking hot or cold food.
- Sleep disruption – If you are grinding your teeth, there exists a possibility for sleep disruption, and even for your partner’s sleep disruption.
- Damaged or broken restorations– You may arrive at this situation if you have a denturist’s acknowledgement, with broken teeth and restorations, in the absence of treatment for teeth grinding.
If you find that you display one or more of these symptoms, it may be worth discussing at your next appointment with a denturist in Calgary about a custom night guard.
Understanding Night Guard Benefits
The purpose of a night guard is not only comfort-it’s protection. Some important benefits of a night guard include:
- Protecting against wear, cracks, and chips to your teeth.
- Reducing jaw pain and muscle strain.
- Reducing the headaches associated with night grinding.
- Improving the quality of your sleep so you feel better rested.
- Protecting dental work against damage.
A night guard is a small investment to avoid larger dental issues down the road.
How to Stop Teeth Grinding
Many of us wonder if there’s a way to end teeth grinding. There are unfortunately no solutions, but there are means of reducing the issue. Below are some helpful tips on how to stop grinding teeth:
- Identify anxiety – Grinding almost always accompanies anxiety and stress; therefore, incorporating stress-management strategies like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing will work to help minimize the anxiety that is causing you to grind in the first place.
- Control caffeine and alcohol – Both caffeine and alcohol can cause you to grind your teeth at night, so reducing the amount of caffeine and alcohol you consume can reduce the likelihood of grinding your teeth at night.
- Practice good sleep hygiene – Going to bed at the same time every night and having a calming pre-bed routine will help to improve the quality of your sleep.
- Consider a night guard – If you are interested in mitigating your risk for grinding your teeth while you sleep, consider getting your own custom-made nighttime guard, which is a great way to protect your teeth from grinding.
Why You Should Not Ignore the Signs
It is certainly not wise to ignore potential teeth grinding problems because it could cause larger issues like TMJ, broken teeth, or costly and complicated dental procedures. Learning to recognize the early signs and protecting your teeth with a night guard could save you from painful procedures and unnecessary expense later on.
Protect your Smile with Market Mall Denture Clinic
If you’ve experienced any signs of teeth grinding, avoiding treatment is not an option. Market Mall Denture Clinic has a wide variety of comfortable, custom-fitted night guards to help protect your smile while you sleep. Our compassionate team will assist you in selecting an option that keeps you smiling, waking up without headaches, jaw pain, or damaged teeth.
Don’t let teeth grinding ruin your teeth, and good sleep is just a phone call away! Call Market Mall Denture Clinic today to book your consultation and to learn how a night guard can help protect your smile.