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Showing posts from February, 2021

Treatments for Teeth Grinding: Night Guards and Beyond

In our stress-filled world, teeth grinding has become all too common. Its prevalence has been on the rise, causing many to seek out ways to decrease or stop their grinding and its negative effects. We’ll go over some of the new solutions that are currently available for teeth grinding.   One of the most well known and frequently recommended treatments for teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a night guard . This helps to not only protect the actual surfaces of your teeth, but also acts as a cushion to absorb the clenching force of your jaw muscles to take some of the tension off of your jaw joint. Since the fit and quality is very important for the effectiveness of your night guard, it’s essential to read night guard reviews to make sure that the night guard you’re getting will do its job properly. A newer method for treating bruxism is Botox. Though it has typically been used for cosmetic purposes, it’s now finding a new purpose as a treatment for teeth grinding. Botox is a neur

How a Nighttime Mouth Guard Can Help You Sleep

It’s fairly common knowledge that for those who grind or clench their teeth, grinding and clenching typically takes place during sleep when they’re unaware that it’s happening. The relationship between sleep and teeth grinding is a complicated one, made even more complicated by the fact that how we sleep and what happens while we sleep often feels totally out of our control. While it’s true that we don’t have ultimate control of our sleep, there are things we can do as teeth grinders to help ourselves have more restful and less disrupted sleep.   First, let’s talk about the relationship between sleep and teeth grinding. Bruxism, or the unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth, is actually classified as a sleep movement disorder. The muscles in the jaw activate during sleep to either grind the surfaces of the teeth against each other or hold tension in the jaw and push the teeth together. Some recent studies have found that teeth grinding is more likely to occur in lighter, less deep

Comparing the Different Types of Night Guard for Teeth Grinding

If you grind or clench your teeth (otherwise known as bruxism), you’re likely frustrated or confused by all the different options out there, whether it’s a night guard from your dentist, an over the counter version, one from an online dental lab, or even a 3D printed night guard. Let’s break down all the different types to find the best night guard for teeth grinding. Firstly, let’s talk about the most accessible mouth guard for teeth grinders, the over-the-counter mouth guard. They can be easily purchased at most major pharmacy stores and are advertised to be custom made, in that it can be molded to your teeth by boiling the material and biting into it.  These mouthguards are the cheapest, both in terms of price and quality. This is a good option if you need something quick, easy, dispensable but not a great if you’re looking for something truly custom. Next, truly custom made night guards are those actually fabricated from an impression of  your teeth. The first one to know is the t

What Is the Best Night Guard for Teeth Clenching?

If you suffer from unconsciously grinding or clenching your teeth - otherwise known as bruxism - then you know the impact it can have on your teeth and your overall health. You have also probably heard that a night guard is one of the best ways both protect your teeth and help to ease some of the other symptoms you may be experiencing, like headaches or jaw pain. But did you know that if you primarily clench your teeth rather than grind them, there are additional considerations to keep in mind when choosing a night guard?   First, it’s important to understand the difference between grinding and clenching your teeth. Grinding involves moving the jaw with the teeth held together, while clenching is simply holding the teeth together and tightening the jaw muscles. The differences between grinding and clenching may seem subtle, but they do impact night guard choice, particularly the type of material the night guard should be made out of. When choosing a night guard for clenching , the key