Why Do I Need Treatment for Teeth Grinding?
Teeth grinding and clenching often occur at night, while patients are sleeping; therefore, many patients don't seek diagnosis. Common symptoms of teeth grinding include waking up with a headache, the feeling of tenderness or pain in the jaw, or unexplained damage to teeth. In addition, your partner may complain of clicking or chattering noises that you make when you sleep.
Grinding and clenching during sleep can generate forces in excess of 200 pounds, and over time, can lead to damage of the tooth enamel and other oral health problems. If untreated, teeth grinding can result in permanent tooth and oral damage that require surgery or other expensive treatments. While reducing stress or home remedies may be effective treatments for minor cases of teeth grinding, most patients who suffer from habitual teeth grinding require professional solutions to prevent serious, long term damage.
Why Is A Custom Mouth Guard The Best Solution For Teeth Grinding?
There are three different kinds of mouth guards for grinding teeth:
1. The cheapest option is the out-of-the-box mouth guard. These come ready-to-wear; however, there is no way to adjust their fit. As a result, they’re bulky and uncomfortable. Due to the poor fit, they offer limited protection against teeth grinding.
2. The slightly better solution is the boil and bite mouth guard. These mouth guards can be softened by hot water and then molded around the teeth. While these boil and bite mouth guards offer a better fit than the out-of-the-box night guards, they’re still uncomfortable and bulky.
3. Custom-fitted dental mouth guards for teeth grinding offer the most comfort and the best protection. Each mouth guard is individually made-to-fit based on an impression of the patient’s teeth. The mouth guard fits perfectly over the upper teeth and provides a protective barrier between the teeth when they're in occlusion.
