Do you grind your teeth or suffer from headaches due to involuntary teeth clenching in your sleep? If so, you might have bruxism which is a medical condition that causes tension and/or tightness resulting in the act of clenching or grinding your teeth. You should look for an expert to receive a night guard in Richmond and who will educate you on how to use it to prevent bruxism. Read on to learn about the importance of a night guard in coping with bruxism.
Table of Contents
What Is Bruxism
Bruxism causes involuntary clenching and teeth grinding in your sleep; it is a common condition and can occur during stressful times. If you suffer from bruxism, you might not know you grind teeth unless a third party informs you. However, you could wake up with headaches due to continuous overuse of the jaw during sleep. Over time, bruxism can lead to adverse damage to the teeth due to friction. The damage could lead to decay, increased sensitivity and teeth cracking, and other oral health issues.
Risk Factors That Predispose You to Bruxism
- Bruxism occurs mainly in young children
- People who are naturally competitive and aggressive might develop bruxism
- Some people could grind their teeth when they are under intense emotions or too much stress
- Medications and substance abuse could lead to bruxism
- Bruxism might be associated with other health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, and epilepsy
How a Night Guard Prevents Bruxism
When you wear a nightguard, it prevents the upper and bottom teeth from touching when you are sleeping. Since teeth grinding is involuntary, the guard prevents it by avoiding contact, leading to less grinding, clenching, and friction.
The guard also reduces jaw tension and pain by reducing the jaw joints’ stress while you are sleeping. The guard should be specifically customized to fit your mouth smoothly, leading to reduced jaw tension and movements in sleep, which cause bruxism.
It prevents headaches caused by the clenching and grinding associated with bruxism. If you are prone to excessive teeth grinding, it could lead to muscle fatigue, jaw aches, and neck pains, but having the proper night guard can prevent these issues.
The night guard might be essential for attaining the correct sleep patterns as teeth grinding could disrupt your sleep. Your muscles will relax, leading to reduced effects of bruxism. Moreover, it puts your jaw in the right place, making it possible to rest peacefully at night.
The night guard can prevent snoring since clenching can create breathing issues that lead to snoring. Once you place the night guard in the appropriate position, it prevents the teeth from touching, puts the jaws in the appropriate position, and opens the airways improving breathing.
Final Thoughts
A properly customized nightguard might be the solution to your involuntary teeth clenching and grinding. Bruxism can cause severe dental health problems such as tooth decay, and it could be prudent to have a nightguard that prevents the condition. A night guard can improve your life by reducing discomforts such as headaches, neck pain, and jaw pain associated with the condition.