If you’ve never had severe headaches or painful jaws before, but you are experiencing them more frequently lately, it could be bruxism. Bruxism refers to a condition where you grind, clench or gnash teeth. If you do this while awake, it’s called awake bruxism. Sleep bruxism refers to patients who grind or clench their teeth during sleep. Stress is one of the major causes of bruxism. Healthline reports that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused more stress in people’s lives. In the United States, Israel and Poland, teeth grinding and clenching have become more common.
A study done in Israel and Poland found that daytime teeth clenching has increased by 17% to 32% while nighttime teeth clenching rose from 10% to 36% over the period of the pandemic. It is common for it to occur at night when you are asleep. Therefore, headaches can be difficult to pinpoint bruxism. There is no cure for bruxism. Even though it is difficult to fix the root causes of teeth grinding or clenching, a night guard can help you eliminate bruxism’s negative side effects.
What is a Nightguard?
Nightguards are a plastic retainer that looks like a retainer. They can be either hard or soft. It can be worn on the top or bottom set of teeth and covers the biting surfaces. Because patients have different tooth patterns, night guards can be custom-made to fit each patient. It is made to fit your teeth and doesn’t feel bulky or uncomfortable. The same thing is called a night guard by many names, such as a dental guard, occlusal shield, bite splint or dental guard.
Important to get the right night guard
Prevent Plaque Development
Despite their similar names, a sports mouthguard should not be confused with one that prevents teeth grinding or clenching. A sports mouthguard will cause more harm than good. It protects the gums and teeth from blunt force trauma. It can trap bacteria on the gum surface if worn at night. This is because saliva cannot reach the gums while the sports mouth guard is on.
Saliva neutralizes acids that can lead to cavities and washes away food particles, thereby preventing the formation of plaque. To avoid damage to your teeth, it is best that you consult an oral hygiene professional before purchasing a night guard. Some night guards have holes that allow saliva to reach your teeth. A dentist can help you choose the best design for your particular teeth.
Avoid changing your bite
Nightguards are usually custom-made to fit your bite and teeth. Their purpose is to prevent surfaces from grinding together. Sports mouthguards are made from a thicker rubbery material and are soft. They are not meant to fit your bite. Because the brain perceives soft material as food, it will make it difficult to chew while you sleep. This can cause discomfort in the muscles and premature wear of the mat. Your bite will shift if you wear a sports guard at night. After a while, your bite would change.
Types of night guards
American Sleep Association classes night guards based on the materials they are made from:
Nightguards for Hard People
They are made of acrylic and can be used to treat TMJ, severe teeth grinding and clenching. The lower jaw positioned in a healthy, centered position will change the way the muscles relax. You can adjust the bite of the guard to relax your jaw and muscles.
Nightguards also can be described as:
Over-the-counter
Over-the-counter night guards are available in drug stores. They are pre-molded to fit every mouth and are one-size fits all. You can also choose to boil-and bite night guards. These need to be softened in hotwater for a better fit. These devices can cause your bite to shift if you use them for a long time.
Custom-made
Because they are custom-made using your impressions, these offer a personal solution. The night guards are made by a dentist using professional materials and techniques. They are also more comfortable. These are durable enough for many years with proper care and adjustments.
How to choose between a lower or upper night guard
You might be wondering which night guard is best to protect you from grinding because it can be worn on either your top or bottom teeth. Consider these factors when making this decision:
Comfort
A night guard that is uncomfortable will most likely not be worn in your mouth. Comfort is key. You will spend the night with the device in your mouth. A lower mouthguard is better if you grind your teeth subconsciously throughout the day. You won’t be noticed and it is less noticeable. A lower night guard may be appropriate if you have sensitive gag reflex.
An upper night guard, however, is more intrusive than a lower one because it is larger and bulkier.
Dental Health
Your teeth condition will play an important role in choosing the right night guard. A custom-made night guard will be made from your impression of your teeth. You should make sure that there are not too many missing or crooked teeth. This will ensure a better fit.
There are five main reasons to wear a night guard
Prevent Tooth Damage
Teeth grinding occurs when you aren’t in control. The more you grind your teeth, the more enamel you lose. Over-sensitivity can be caused by enamel erosion. Your mouth can become extremely sensitive to hot and cold drinks or food. Without enamel protecting your teeth from decay, your teeth are more vulnerable to decay. Infections can occur when decay continues to the hard enamel.
Teeth grinding can also cause damage, fracturing weak teeth and removing fillings. Although the surface of teeth can withstand the pressures of chewing and biting, the extra pressure from grinding and clenching is not sustainable. The tooth can fracture or crack. You will also experience the severe pain of a tooth fracture and need to visit the dentists to get treatment. While a dentist may be able to fill your tooth with a filling, you might need more expensive treatment such as crowns, root canals, or tooth loss. Bridges and implants can fix tooth loss.
Prevents Temporomandibular joint disorder
The temporomandibular (TMJ), which connects the jaw to the skull, affects your ability to chew. When you clench your teeth during sleep, pressure is applied to the TMJ. This can lead to misalignment. When misaligned, you develop TMJ dysfunction. TMJ dysfunction can cause difficulty chewing, pain in the ears, and headaches. The articular disk may be damaged, which can lead to disk displacement. Your jaw may lock up or close unexpectedly, which can cause you to need to visit the ER. A night guard can prevent the development of the disorder because it reduces tension on the muscles.
Get rid of chronic headaches
TMJ dysfunction is often manifested as migraines. Chronic headaches and neck pains are the most common symptoms of possible bruxism. Headaches can be caused by tension in the jaw, neck, shoulders, mouth and jaw. Before you rush to diagnose yourself with bruxism, it is important that you check if the headaches are actually caused by teeth grinding or clenching. You can check the surface of your teeth. If they are not pointed but flattened, it is likely that you grind your teeth while sleeping. You can also look for signs of recession in the gums and bone, which could be caused by clenching. Because you don’t have to tighten your muscles, a custom-made night guard can eliminate headaches.
You can save money
While a one-size-fits all night guard is available for EUR20, it is not recommended as it can cause discomfort. For most patients with bruxism, a custom-made night guard can run around EUR 800. The cost of a night guard should not be prohibitive. The night guard is less expensive than restorative dentistry when you compare its cost. Restorative dentistry is the best option for treating your dental problems once your teeth have worn out or fractured. Tooth restorations can include fillings, crowns and tooth loss. Implants can also be used to fix your bite.