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July 30, 2015

I can’t stop grinding my teeth!

Filed under: Uncategorized — dr_campbell @ 5:39 am
headacheIf you wake up with jaw pain, muscle soreness or tension headaches; you could be suffering from a condition called bruxism. This means that you are suffering from clenching your teeth or grinding your teeth during your sleep.
Fortunately, there is a non-invasive therapy appliance that is custom fit for your teeth that can reduce these symptoms and save your teeth from constant damage
Causes of teeth Grinding and/or Clenching
Stress and tension during the day are the number one reasons for a person to grind or clench their teeth during sleep, unconsciously. Other conditions such as anxiety, sleep apnea, and a misaligned bite can also cause symptoms.
Nightguards
At Peak Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, we evaluate each individual and access what appliance is best for you. This custom fit will allow a better fit while reducing most of the symptoms.
Old, traditional night guards that cover all of the teeth only stop the teeth from touching which will reduce the enamel loss. Full traditional night guards do NOT stop the underlying condition, and people still present with muscle tension and headaches.
In our office, we will custom fabricate a night guard that protects from enamel loss, and prohibits muscle tension and headaches. Our custom night guards re-program the jaw and muscles to allow a more ideal fit while not allowing your back teeth to touch. This inhibits muscle use while ultimately eliminating the underlying condition.
Over-the-counter Nightguards – NOT RECOMMENDED
Over-the-counter night guards are not recommended by the American Dental Association. The poor fit from an over the counter night guard can possibly cause more damage to your jaw and muscles. They are too bulky which opens your mouth too much causing pain to your joints due to the fact that your jaw is resting in an unhealthy position. The soft material also will allow your teeth to unconsciously grind or clench more making your muscles more active and more sore. Peak Family Dentistry & Orthodontics does NOT recommend the use of over-the-counter night guards.
Benefits
According to research, 70% of people who grind or clench their teeth do not have any symptoms. During a comprehensive exam we evaluate for signs of bruxism and clenching of the teeth by signs of tooth wear and enamel loss.
Custom fit night guards will reduce this constant wear to the protective layer, enamel. Also, it will reduce the discomfort associated with tension headaches and jaw pain.
If you have any concerns that you are grinding or clenching your teeth, visit Peak Family Dentistry & Orthodontics in Westminster for a comprehensive evaluation.

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