Unbeknownst to many, there is a sleep condition that refers to habitual teeth grinding at night that results in painful jaws and severe headaches the following morning. Yes, you’ve read all that right. This type of sleeping problem exists, and it’s called sleep bruxism.
In general, the cause of sleep bruxism is unknown. However, there are plenty of individuals who suffer from this problem worldwide. It’s also pretty hard to pinpoint the exact number of those who have it, as it’s hard to collect data since people are not aware they grind their teeth in their sleep at all.
Nonetheless, statistics show that nearly 50 percent of children and adults have bruxism. But this data is incomplete, as it’s pretty challenging to identify sleep bruxism. As a result, most reports only show patients that grind their teeth repeatedly throughout the day.
And to make matters worse, medical experts are yet to come up with a cure for bruxism. So if you’re one of the unfortunate people who suffer from this problem, you’ll find that you’re often left with no other option but to treat symptoms that relate to it to manage your condition.
Luckily, though, there’s a simple way to mitigate the negative effects of sleep bruxism—and that is through wearing a night guard to sleep. Not to be confused with a sports mouth guard, a night guard is a nifty item designed to fit different bites. In general, this dental piece is intended to prevent teeth grinding and clenching to negate the effects of bruxism and other similar problems. And if you’re curious about how it works, read on to find out more about how this nifty item can help you deal with bruxism and its symptoms.
1. Prevents Teeth Grinding in Your Sleep
People with bruxism often find themselves grinding their teeth without reason. It randomly happens in the day or at night. But luckily, you can easily stop yourself from grinding your teeth when you’re awake and conscious.
The same does not apply at night, though. Thus, individuals often find themselves suffering from egregious symptoms of bruxism after waking up in the morning. For this reason, it can be a pretty excellent idea to wear a night guard that covers the biting surfaces of your mouth to prevent them from coming in contact with each other.
2. Protects Teeth from Friction Damage
Aside from jaw pain and headache, teeth grinding also has the potential to strip off the protective enamel of your teeth. Hence, many individuals who have bruxism often find themselves suffering from tooth sensitivity, fracture, decay, and damage.
With that said, wearing a night guard at night offers protection against various dental problems related to bruxism. Furthermore, it reduces the strain of teeth grinding, relieving you of the negative effects of the said condition.
Conclusion
Given all this information, it’s obvious that night guards help people with bruxism in more ways than one. And since this medical condition has no definite cure yet, it would be an excellent idea to invest in a customized night guard to help you manage teeth grinding and clenching in your sleep.
Looking for a clinic to get dentures in Ann Arbor? Dental House MI is a reputable dental clinic that specializes in restorative, cosmetic, and preventive dental services. If you’re searching for a reliable clinic to get a custom night guard from, then this is the perfect place to be. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!