Our dentist at Norwood Dental Centre provides custom night guards for patients who grind or clench their teeth while they sleep, or for patients who suffer from TMD/TMJ.
A night guard (or bite guard) is a custom-made mouth guard that is meant to be worn during sleep. It helps to protect your teeth and jaw from damage, preventing the need for more invasive treatments in the future.
If you grind your teeth during sleep (bruxism), a night guard will act as a barrier to protect your teeth from damaging one another.
If you suffer from TMD/TMJ (jaw joint disorder), your night guard will help prevent jaw clenching during sleep, and will provide you with some pain relief.
Our Winnipeg dentist will create a custom mouth guard just for you. Depending on your needs, a night guard may be either a bite splint or a bite plane. Your mouth guard will be made from a mold taken of your mouth to ensure it fits your teeth.
With proper care and storage, your mouth guard will protect your mouth for many years to come.
Teeth grinding can put stress and strain on your jaw muscles making them inflamed. In the morning your jaw may hurt and feel stiff. Your teeth or face may ache. Your pain can make it difficult for you to open your mouth or chew. You also may experience clicking or popping when you talk or chew. Bruxism (grinding) can also cause earaches, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in your ears), and hearing loss in one or both ears.
If you wake up with frequent headaches, you may be grinding your teeth at night. These headaches can be mild or intense. Typically, your pain will be centered around the sides and back of your head. These types of headaches are caused by the pressure on your jaws while grinding.
Your teeth can only withstand so much stress and strain. Persistent grinding will wear down your tooth enamel and expose your teeth to sensitivity.
When you look in a mirror, you may notice:
Your teeth grinding is so loud, it wakes up your significant other, family member, or friend, who tells you about it.
