How Fitted Mouth Pieces Can Prevent Teeth Clenching, Grinding, and Pain
Whether we are aware of it or not, many of us clench and grind our teeth while asleep. Some do this regularly, while others only clench their jaws while under stress.
Signs of this nighttime behaviour include waking up with headaches and tense jaw muscles. And if you sleep next to someone, maybe they have told you about the weird clicking sounds you make with your mouth at night. This clenching and grinding can also lead to waking up with debilitating migraines for the unluckiest of sufferers.
The pressure created from clenching our jaws at night can be equivalent to the pressure needed to crack a nut with a nutcracker. That’s a lot of pressure to be putting on your jaw, joints, teeth, and muscles. And with regular occurrence, this pressure can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, headaches, and migraines.
Whether you have access to a dentist in Kanata or otherwise, they can prevent your nightly teeth clenching and grinding with a night guard for your teeth. With this protection, you can prevent the regular pain and discomfort caused by TMJ and migraines. Let your dentist know if you suffer from any of these conditions so they can fit a mouthpiece for you that will comfortably keep your teeth from touching and grinding while you sleep.
TMJ Disorder
This disorder is caused by frequent stress on your temporomandibular joint—the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. Aside from frequent headaches, signs of TMJ disorder include:
- Sore face and jaw;
- Popping/cracking noises in your jaw when you open your mouth; and,
- Lockjaw—the inability to open your mouth completely.
If you start to notice these symptoms, you can prevent them from worsening by using a night guard or mouthpiece that will prevent your teeth from grinding at night.
Migraines
Tense neck, head, and facial muscles can contribute to the development of migraines. So if you suffer from migraines, and you clench your teeth—either at night, during the day, or both—there is a good chance that the muscle tension caused by clenching, grinding, and pressure is triggering your migraines. Your dentist can help alleviate your pain with a small mouthpiece that you can comfortably wear at any time.
Aside from preventing and relieving pain, night guards can also protect your teeth and dental restorations from the damaging effects of teeth grinding—such as chipped teeth. This dental protection is especially useful if you are also recovering from a dental procedure or injury.
So, if you suffer from pain caused by clenching and grinding your teeth, ask your dentist about night guards and mouthpieces. If you live in Ottawa, we at Yazdani Family Dentistry are happy to help as a respected dentist in Kanata. Our night guards will prevent your teeth from touching, clenching, and grinding, so your jaw won’t place any stress on your TMJ. In turn, it will prevent the onset or worsening of TMJ disorder, tension headaches, and debilitating migraines, so you can wake up and enjoy your days without suffering.
