Call: (360) 373-3515 or Text Us at: (855) 434-1656 Call: (360) 373-3515 or Text Us at: (855) 434-1656 
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Posted on 1/20/2018 by Allan Hablutzel |
 According to the American Sleep Association, about 10% of Americans suffer from bruxism or teeth grinding. Of that number, 15% of them are children. The condition is typically triggered by stress, which causes their muscles to tense and as a result, they grind their teeth. If you live alone, it's almost impossible for you to know that you are a teeth-grinder unless your dentist tells you. While you need to address the underlying cause, a night guard provides temporary relief against bruxism. When Do You Need a Night Guard?It's hard to make recommendations over the Internet without conducting a checkup, but we should first determine the cause of the tooth wear and tear. Could the reason be sleep apnea or a protruding tooth?Could it be bony growths in the lower mandible or bone prominence? Even if a night guard would be necessary in some cases, the more important thing is to correct the reason why you grind your teeth in the first place. The night guard will help you get a good night's sleep by taking away the pain. More often than not, teeth grinders often wake up with a very painful jaw and sore teeth. Sleeping is a struggle for them as they have to undergo the cycle once again. A common question is that the night guard will be an effective solution for the temporomandibular joint disorders or TMJ. Again, it's hard to make a determination without first seeing the patient. Generally speaking, however, they can work to reduce the pain associated with the condition. But there's a caveat: the night guard should be properly fitted to address the problem. If improperly worn, it could even aggravate your TMJ. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (360) 373-3515 today. |
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