How a Night Guard Can Help with Teeth Grinding

How a Night Guard Can Help with Teeth Grinding

Prevent dental wear and tear by wearing a custom-made night guard.

Teeth grinding is a fairly common habit. You may do it and not even notice. Of course, the next time you come in to see your Charlotte, NC family dentists, Dr. Susan Hockaday and Dr. Jim Baucom, for a six-month cleaning they may start to notice the wear and tear that Night Guardteeth grinding is taking on your teeth. Before damage gets too bad, find out when to consider a night guard and how it could help.

What is Bruxism?

While you may have never heard the word bruxism before, you are probably familiar with teeth clenching or grinding. Many people do it and don’t even know it, as it's fairly common to do it in one’s sleep. It’s important that if you have bruxism that you understand the damage it can do to your teeth.

Teeth grinding puts unnecessary pressure on your teeth, which can damage your teeth, cause tooth loss, tooth and jaw pain, recurrent headaches, enamel wear, and jaw joint disorders (TMJ).

Symptoms of Bruxism

One of the telltale signs that you suffer from bruxism is flat teeth. You may not even notice this but your Charlotte, NC general dentists will be able to during one of your regular checkups. You may also experience increased sensitivity to hot or cold in certain teeth because the dentin layer of the tooth is exposed (due to gradual wear). You may also experience jaw pain, stiffness, or clicking.

Treating Bruxism

Once we determine that you grind or clench your teeth, we will often recommend that you wear a plastic, custom-made dental appliance known as a night guard that will work as a shock absorber to reduce the amount of force your jaws are placing on your teeth. This dental device is a great way to protect against future damage to your teeth and gums.

We will take impressions of your teeth, which we will use to create your very own night guard. These night guards are different from any commercial mouth guards you may find, which don’t offer the same fit (and thereby the same protection). They also offer better comfort.

Want to find out if you could benefit from a night guard? Then turn to your dentists in Charlotte, NC at Hockaday & Baucom, DDS.