Mouthguards Many people with bruxism never notice that they grind or clench their teeth. As a result, they may continue to grind and clench until a dentist discovers that they have bruxism. When we detect that you grind and clench your teeth, our team at The OC Smiles Family Dental comes up with solutions. We employ a number of treatment options to help ease the impacts of bruxism. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding create tension in the muscles. That is why you often wake up with headaches. It also causes pain, which can be severe if the grinding and clenching are heavy. We can design and create a customized night mouthguard to help with your bruxism. Impact of Bruxism on Oral HealthPeople with the habit of jaw clenching and teeth grinding can suffer from various dental issues. Grinding and clenching wear down the teeth. When the enamel is eroded from the pressure and force created by teeth grinding, it weakens. As such, it becomes sensitive. Additionally, grinding and clenching may cause the teeth to fracture or break, leading to sensitivity and increased risk for cavities and decay. You may have TMJ disorder if you suffer from bruxism. What is a Mouthguard?A mouthguard is a plastic oral appliance that resembles a mouth retainer. A mouthguard can be soft or hard and is used to cover the chewing or biting surfaces of teeth. You can wear a mouthguard on either the upper or lower arch of your teeth. We understand that people have different teeth patterns, therefore, we do not recommend store-bought mouthguards. These usually are one-size-fits-all, meaning that they may not work for you. As such, we recommend custom-made mouthguard that we fabricate in the lab. We obtain a mouth impression that we use to make your customized mouthguard. Our mouthguards are molded for each patient, ensuring that they fit your teeth without causing discomfort or feeling unnecessarily bulky. Do you Really Have to Wear a Mouthguard?People who do not grind or clench do not need to wear a night mouthguard. However, if you habitually grind and clench your teeth, then you are a candidate for this oral appliance. Our team believes in the importance of preventive care. A mouthguard is one of the things that can prevent damage to your teeth. You only have one set of permanent teeth. If they are gone, you will need to replace them with artificial ones. So, it is important to protect your teeth from damage that could lead to their loss. This is where a mouthguard comes in handy. How a Mouthguard Protects YouWearing a mouthguard offers many benefits. It helps prevent further damage to your teeth. The mouthguard prevents your teeth from slamming against each other when grinding and clenching. This way, you stop and prevent wearing down or breakage and fracture of the teeth. Additionally, mouthguards help prevent damage to any dental work you have. If you receive restorations such as crowns, veneers, fillings, inlays, onlays, or even dentures, then grinding the teeth could damage these restorations. Besides, wearing mouthguards helps ease any discomfort you could be having from grinding and clenching such as headaches and a painful jaw. Moreover, a mouthguard eases TMJ symptoms such as jaw pain, face pain, and neck pain. Come see us at The OC Smiles Family Dental to learn more about how we can protect your teeth from grinding and clenching by constructing a custom fitted mouthguard. Call us at (971) 447-0093 to set up an appointment. |
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