If you’ve ever woken up your partner sleeping next to you because they can hear you grinding or clenching your teeth, you may want to consider a night guard custom-designed by our team in Escondido, California.
If you’re not sure whether or not grinding or clenching your teeth is happening, a few of the signs include:
- Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
- Increased tooth pain or sensitivity
- Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won’t open or close completely
- Jaw, neck or face pain or soreness
- Pain that feels like an earache, though it’s actually not a problem with your ear
- Dull headache starting in the temples
- Damage from chewing on the inside of your cheek
- Sleep disruption
(Source: Mayo Clinic)
A night guard is an appliance you wear over your teeth when you’re sleeping. This device prevents your top and bottom teeth from touching and eliminates the possibility of grinding or clenching your teeth.
And while the primary benefit of the night guard is the reduction of this harmful (albeit unknowing) behavior, there are a few other benefits to wearing a night guard, as well.
Those benefits include but are not limited to a reduction in tooth pain or eventual tooth or crown cracking or the reduction of chronic headaches caused by the constant, nightly wear on the teeth.
Night guards are available in a variety of different sizes, shapes, and forms but having your custom made in our Escondido, California office will provide a more customized fit, resulting in a longer wear time and better experience. These are made by taking an impression of your teeth and sending that mold to a special lab, ensuring a perfect fit and great quality.
Similar to a night guard, a sport guard is also a protective device for your teeth but is one designed to be worn while participating in contact sports that have the ability to damage your teeth.
Customized sports guard are great for all types of sports but especially those that pose a serious risk of getting hit in the facial area and causing broken or fractured teeth. Sport guards should also be customized by your dentist to ensure an accurate fit, as those purchased in a drug or grocery store could actually cause further issues from an improper fit.
Customized night guards are likely to last longer than a customized sport guard which should be replaced each new sports season. For children who are constantly growing, guards should also be replaced if their bite has changed, their jaw has grown, or you feel like it’s not providing adequate protection.
As with most dental concerns, it’s better to seek out preventative care instead of dealing with a dental emergency or trauma. If you’re experiencing symptoms of teeth grinding or clenching, or have someone in your family in need of a custom sport guard for their upcoming sports season, please contact our Escondido, California office for a consultation visit. You and your smile are worth it.