Teeth Grinding Night Guard Recommendations
About 20 percent of all adults grind their teeth while sleeping. Teeth grinding--also called bruxism--occurs when the front and bottom row of teeth are not lined up due to several factors: an overbite, misalignment of the jaw or temporal mandibular joint syndrome.
Dentists recommend using a mouth guard that is a plastic device placed in the mouth that creates a barrier and makes it impossible to grind the teeth.
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Identification
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Bruxism can occur at any age and is often related to stress. Ordinarily, it is a partner or family member who notices that you are grinding your teeth at night.
A mouth plate can be custom-made by your dentist so you can wear it at night to prevent teeth grinding. There are also several good versions that can be purchased online for less than $40 (see Resources below). Talk to your dentist to see what is best for you.
Significance
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Left unchecked, bruxim can lead to wearing down of the teeth, which will make it harder to chew food properly. It can also lead to greater sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Bruxism can also result in headaches, neck pain or mouth soreness. As teeth grinding happens most frequently at night, it is almost impossible to voluntarily stop the behavior.
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Considerations
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If you have an overbite or underbite, it may not be possible to wear a one-size-fits-all mouth guard purchased online or from a pharmacy. Experiment with a version at your dentist's office. If you do not have any serious misalignment in your teeth or jaw, you might have success with a non-custom mouth plate.
Misconceptions
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The greatest misconception is that bruxism is not a serious medical issue. While not everyone who grinds teeth will experience headaches or neck pain, bruxism does damage the teeth. It is important to maintain the integrity of the teeth so you can properly chew and digest food.
Warning
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Do not ignore bruxism. Even if you do not suffer any pain or discomfort but suspect you grind your teeth at night, see your dentist. She can assess you and recommend that you get a custom-made mouth plate or buy a generic version online or from a pharmacy.
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