Nightguards and Mouthguards

 Many patients don’t realize they grind their teeth until someone else tells them. However, some patients do experience discomfort such as jaw pain and headaches, which can be signs of teeth grinding. In addition, the dentist may notice wear on the teeth if the patient has been grinding his or her teeth for a long period of time.

A night guard is a mouthpiece worn through the night to prevent teeth grinding. It is custom-fitted to your mouth to provide a cushion between the top and bottom teeth and prevent them from forcefully sliding against each other. It is designed to be as comfortable as possible, much more so than the products available over the counter in stores which are of generic sizes and fit could be questionable. For patients who grind their teeth, it is absolutely crucial to start wearing a night guard as soon as possible. Patients who grind their teeth are at risk of chipping a tooth, wearing the teeth down, or injuring the jaw.

A night guard can eliminate the possibility of such damage occurring. In addition, wearing a night guard can make nighttime more pleasant for a teeth grinder’s spouse or company, as the sound of teeth grinding can be quite disruptive.