Struggling With Bruxism? Here’s How Ace Dental of Taylor Can Help

Many people are not even aware they have bruxism. The symptoms are easy to overlook at first. You might think that a morning headache or pain in your jaws is probably happening because of stress. It’s when the issue starts hurting the teeth and gums that people notice something is wrong.

As soon as you notice signs like worn-out tooth surfaces, jaw pain, sensitivity in your teeth, and tension in your facial muscles, you need to get evaluated for bruxism.

We typically suggest wearing a custom night guard. This easy-to-wear appliance does wonders for patients with a teeth-grinding habit. We also suggest some lifestyle changes that help reduce teeth grinding.

Here are the benefits of wearing a night guard while sleeping:

Prevents enamel wear

When you grind your teeth, there’s a lot of pressure, enough to wear out your enamel over time. A night guard works like a soft shield. It stops the teeth from rubbing against each other and prevents tooth wear.

Protects your teeth

Heavy clenching and grinding forces make your teeth very vulnerable. The tooth surfaces may develop cracks or fractures. Night guards prevent that from happening.

Relieves jaw pain

This oral appliance helps a lot with jaw pain related to bruxism. Many of our patients in Taylor tell us that they feel considerably less jaw soreness and pain in the morning after using a night guard.

Better sleep

You may sleep better once you start wearing this appliance. Without the excess strain on your jaws and facial muscles throughout the night, you can have a more peaceful sleep.

It’s a comfortable appliance to wear. You might have some discomfort when you first start wearing it. That’s pretty normal. Some people feel that the appliance feels bulky in their mouth or they have mild soreness.

Slowly, these symptoms fade when your mouth adjusts. You won’t be as hyper-aware that you’re wearing a night guard in your mouth as you probably would in the first few nights.

Most patients begin noticing improvement in their teeth grinding habit within a few weeks to months, though the exact time can vary.

Bruxism can silently ruin your teeth and gums the longer it goes unaddressed. As soon as you notice the signs, talk to our dental experts at ACE Dental of Taylor to get the most suitable treatment options. Call us today!