If you are experiencing severe headaches and painful jaws, you could have teeth grinding problems. Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, has various effects on your body, including causing severe headaches. Bruxism is a condition where you clench, grind or gnash your teeth while sleeping. Some people grind their teeth when awake in what is known as awake bruxism.
Given the adverse effects of teeth grinding, it is vital to prevent it. One way you can do so is by wearing grinding mouth guards. These guards have become popular in recent years, thanks to their effectiveness.
Read on to understand why mouthguards are becoming popular and what they entail.
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What Is a Teeth Grinding Mouth Guard?
Also known as a night guard, a tooth-grinding mouth guard is a dental device that protects and covers your gums, teeth, cheeks, and tongue from the effects of teeth grinding when you sleep. These guards can also protect against mouth injuries when playing sports. Teeth grinding mouth guards from Teeth Grinding Guard Lab also reduce snoring in people battling sleep apnea.
Remember that the ideal mouth guard for your condition depends on the dentist’s or doctor’s diagnosis. It would help if you didn’t use any mouth guard because it might not suit your condition. Other names for mouth guards include nocturnal bite plates, occlusal guards, dental guards, and bite splints.
Types of Mouthguards
Now that you understand what mouthguards are, it is time to understand the different types of mouthguards. Generally, there are three main types of mouthguards. These are;
Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guard
Boil-and-bite mouth guards are those made of a thermoplastic material. These mouth guards come in a fixed size that you can easily customize to fit your mouth. Given that the piece is rigid, you will have to soften it by placing it in hot boiling water. After that, let it cool off, gently place it over your front teeth and bite down. Doing so will adjust the size of the mouth guard, making it fit over your teeth perfectly.
There are different instructions depending on the brand of mouth guards you use. Therefore, be sure to follow the instructions on the product package.
Stock Mouth Guard
This is another common type of mouth guard. It is an affordable, easy to find, and one-size-fits-all mouth guard. In most cases, stock mouthguards are available at sporting and drug stores, with most of them coming in different sizes. Like any other product, these mouth guards have their downsides. For instance, they are not custom-made for both sets of your teeth and are only designed to cover the top teeth.
Nonetheless, they offer the protection required because they prevent teeth from getting in contact. You can be sure of better breathing when you wear stock mouthguards because they reduce jaw problems. Breathing problems have also decreased significantly.
Custom-Fitted Mouth Guard
The last primary type of mouthguards are the custom-fitted ones. Custom-made mouth guards are one of the most common, thanks to their effectiveness. They fit your teeth better and significantly reduce the effects of bruxism. Making these mouth guards involves making a mold of your teeth. Then, the mold is used to create a mouth guard that explicitly fits the structure of your mouth and teeth. Most users prefer custom-fit mouth guards because they require less adjustment. They are customized to the shape of your mouth and teeth, making them highly effective.
Reasons Why Teeth Grinding Mouth Guards are Becoming Popular
Here are some of the reasons why teeth-grinding mouth guards are becoming popular.
Prevent Teeth Damage
Teeth grinding mouth guards are helpful because they prevent teeth damage. Since most teeth grinding happens when you are asleep and not in control, you subject your teeth to enamel loss. This poses a great risk to your oral health. Enamel erosion results in tooth sensitivity, a condition that causes great discomfort. You will find it unbearable to drink hot or cold beverages. Besides, with damaged enamel, your teeth are likely to develop decay. If you don’t treat the condition on time and the decay spreads to the deeper parts of your teeth, you will develop oral infections.
Continuous teeth grinding removes any fillings and causes damage by fracturing the weak tooth. Generally, the surface of your teeth can handle the pressure associated with biting and chewing. However, additional pressure from grinding and clenching could break them. This causes cracks and fractures in your teeth, affecting your smile. It is challenging to deal with a broken tooth, given that no natural replacements exist. A teeth-grinding mouth guard can help prevent all these setbacks.
Help Improve Sleep
Another reason teeth-grinding mouth guards are becoming popular is that they help improve sleep. Apart from teeth grinding symptoms being unpleasant in the morning, they can keep you or your roommate awake at night. This is the case, especially if the grinding is loud. Fortunately, using nightguards can significantly improve your sleep. They reduce stress on jaw muscles, face pain, jaw pain, and migraines. It is much easier to enjoy a good night’s sleep when you are not in pain. You can easily achieve this by using teeth-grinding mouth guards!
Reduce Teeth Grinding Symptoms
Jaw pain, morning headaches, neck pain, tooth pain, worn teeth, face soreness, tongue abrasions, and TMJ are some of the many symptoms of teeth grinding. If you have any of these symptoms, you could be grinding your teeth at night. Using a grinding mouth guard can help eliminate or even relieve these symptoms. This is because teeth-grinding mouth guards are a barrier between your bottom and top teeth. As a result, the impact of teeth clenching and grinding is absorbed.
Teeth Grinding Mouth Guards Are Vital
Thanks to their effectiveness, many people are starting to use grinding mouth guards. They prevent the effects of teeth grinding, such as headaches and jaw pain. Therefore, if you have bruxism and looking to have a peaceful night, you should consider using grinding mouth guards.