How To Stop Grinding Teeth With A Mouthguard
Teeth grinding is an oral problem common among children. It features excessive gnashing of the lower and upper teeth when sleeping. Many pediatric dentists in Bloomfield, CT, engage children in different treatment protocols to stop teeth grinding early, preventing future oral complications. One great way to treat teeth grinding is using a mouthguard.
What Is a Mouthguard?
It is a dental appliance that protects teeth and jaws by acting as a shock absorber. A mouthguard will typically cover one arc of the jaw, cushioning teeth as a preventive treatment protocol. Mouthguards near you serve various roles in dentistry, including protecting teeth from dental injuries and accidents. However, when your dentists customize a mouthguard in Bloomfield, CT, it is for a specific reason. Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is one of the dental problems that can benefit from mouthguards.
How Do mouthguards Work?
Ideally, a mouth protector will create a physical barrier for your teeth to even out the pressure across your jaw. In that sense, the mouthguard does not stop you from grinding your teeth. Instead, it prevents the negative impact of teeth grinding on your jaw and teeth. The goal of using mouthguards to treat teeth grinding is to protect your teeth and jaw from damage while you overcome bad oral habits. However, your dentist may recommend other treatments to help you kick off that bad oral habit.
What Oral Complications Can You Avoid with Mouthguards for Teeth Grinding?
Some of the consequences of excessive teeth grinding to your oral health care:
- Migraine headaches
- Ear pain
- Tooth pain
- Sore and inflamed jaw
- Jaw pain – making it difficult to chew and eat properly.
- Enamel thinning – over time, bruxism wears down your enamel. It can impact the shape and size of teeth, calling for future dental restorations to restore your smile’s aesthetics.
- Hypersensitivity – teeth may become sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks due to teeth grinding.
- Cracks, chips, and tooth fractures
- Temporomandibular disorder (TMJ)
- Premature tooth loss
Where Can You Get a Mouthguard for Teeth Grinding?
Many types of mouthguards are accessible from sporting goods stores near you. However, when treating teeth grinding, you need a customized oral appliance. To get one, schedule an appointment with one of your dentists at Bloomfield Pediatric Dentistry. She will examine your oral cavity to determine the extent of teeth grinding before beginning the treatment.
To create a suitable mouthguard, a dentist takes impressions of the teeth. The mouth protector is typically fitted to one arc of your jaw, the lower or upper teeth. Sometimes, dentists can customize a mouthpiece for both the upper and lower teeth depending on the current needs you have.
How Long Must You Wait to Get a Mouthguard?
If it is customized, you have to wait for about 2 weeks before your mouthguard is ready. The creation process occurs in a dental laboratory. Meanwhile, your dentist may recommend wearing a temporary mouthguard.
Are Mouthguards Safe for Children?
It is normal to worry about the safety of your child when they sleep with a foreign device in their mouth. Technically, if the mouth protector is ill-fitting, it can easily slip off and choke the child at night. It is, therefore, crucial to get the mouth protector customized for a snug fit. Besides, mouthguards are common in pediatric dentistry since children are mostly the ones who suffer from bruxism.
Other Remedies for Teeth Grinding
The dentist must evaluate the underlying cause of your teeth grinding problem before administering any other form of treatment. Other than wearing a mouthguard, you can help treat bruxism permanently through the following ways:
- Talk therapy and physical exercises – train your jaw to keep open. For example, saying out the loud letter ‘N’ repeatedly.
- Treating anxiety and depression – clenching your face can worsen bruxism. If you suffer from anxiety or depression, it means that your teeth grinding may be worse than typical. Various treatments for anxiety and depression can alleviate stress and reduce clenching and teeth grinding.
- Reductive coronoplasty – is a procedure that levels or reshapes your teeth’ biting surface. The procedure is suitable for patients whose bruxism results from orthodontic problems like misaligned jaw, crooked teeth, or overcrowding.
