Signs you might need a night guard for teeth grinding

As any dentist in Surrey can attest to, teeth grinding, aka bruxism, is a habit a lot of us have. Yet many people are likely not aware of it because it often takes place at night while sleeping. However, there are telltale signs that teeth grinding is occurring. Once you know, then you can take steps to minimise the impact by wearing a dental mouth guard.

Signs of tooth grinding

• Sound
• Pain: headaches, ear aches, neck pain, jaw pain, face pain
• Tooth pain and or tooth sensitivity
• Tooth damage
• TMJ/TMD
• Erosion of enamel

Sound

The sound of someone grinding their teeth is sometimes the first sign anyone notices! It could be a family member who hears it. Or it could be the teeth-grinder themselves, as the sound can be loud enough to wake one out of sleep. In some cases, it causes loss of sleep for the sufferer and/or their spouse.

Pain

Teeth grinding puts a lot of stress on teeth, muscles, and joints. So pain can show up in your jaw and/or in your face, neck, shoulders, and back. It can also cause ear aches and headaches. In fact, headaches can be persistent and escalate to migraines. These kinds of pains can be worse in the morning.

Tooth pain/sensitivity

Grinding your teeth can irritate the gums and nerves in your teeth, making them hurt or feel sensitive.

Tooth damage Wearing, chipping, cracking, fracturing

Since bruxism is often associated with feelings of stress and anxiety, it can vary in intensity throughout your life. Over time, your teeth sustain a lot of damage, ranging from wearing down to flat surfaces, chipping, cracking and fracturing. A quick peek into your mouth by a dentist can raise the question “Do you grind your teeth” because the damage can be that visible.

TMJ/TMD

TMJ (temporomandibular joint), and TMD (temporomandibular disorder) refer to issues that affect the joint between your upper and lower jaw. Grinding or clenching your teeth can injure or irritate this joint. While genetic issues can be the source of problems here, it’s often teeth grinding to blame. The bright side is it’s easier to fashion a dental mouth guard to address it than it is to change your genetics.

Erosion

When you grind your teeth hard enough, or long enough, the enamel wears away. When that happens, the dentin layer, just underneath the enamel, becomes exposed. With that comes an increased chance for tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, and tooth yellowing.

Fortunately, there’s an easy and effective way to combat teeth grinding: Dental mouth guards.

Dental mouth guards

• Prevents direct contact
• Provides a cushion
• Distributes the pressure

Also called night guards, mouth guards are acrylic appliances that are fitted for your teeth. They offer a layer of protection in between the teeth by preventing direct contact, providing a cushioning effect and distributing the pressure. Besides protecting your teeth they also reduce the symptoms of TMD.

A dentist in Surrey will be able to form-fit a night guard for your very specific set of teeth. You can also find generic ones at the store and fit them yourself at home. This version may not be as comfortable though, and comfort is an important factor in wearing them.  Find more information about the differences in one of our earlier blogs here.

Are you grinding your teeth at night or clenching during the day and want more information? Contact Riverside Heights Dental in North Surrey for information on how we can help you. 604-584-2535