On
the morning of the big presentation my jaw ached as if I’d just chewed
through my pillow top mattress and maybe my nightstand too. I’d been
clenching my teeth all night long, like I always do when I’m stressed.”
Sound familiar? Most dentists agree, nighttime clenching, grinding and bruxing is one of the most common conditions we see. The symptoms are wide ranged, from sore muscles in the face, neck, shoulders and back, to headaches, cold sensitive teeth, cracked teeth, ear pain and joint damage.
In most cases a custom made prescription night time appliance called a night guard or occlusal guard is the answer. The function of the night guard is multi faceted. It protects the teeth and enamel from wear and fractures caused by the trauma of grinding. It also breaks the “muscle memory” of the facial muscles that control the movement of the lower jaw.
Because of the custom fit, it also serves as a type of retainer so your teeth don’t move with age. These guards are made of a hard high quality acrylic that will last for years.
