If you are suffering from severe headaches and pain in your jawbone, you may have a condition called bruxism. It is a disorder characterized by grinding or clenching the teeth.Â
One of the main causes of bruxism is stress. While, unfortunately, there is no known cure, there are solutions that can relieve your pain and discomfort.Â
At North Alabama Smiles, we recommend custom nightguards to prevent the harmful effects of bruxism and protect your teeth.Â
What Is a Nightguard?
A nightguard is a retainer-like plastic device that can be hard or soft. It protects the biting surfaces of the teeth and can be worn on either the upper or lower teeth.Â
As people have different bite patterns, a customized nightguard is the best option you can choose. It is manufactured based on your specific requirements and ensures a comfortable fit without being bulky.Â
What Are the Benefits of Nightguards?
There are several benefits of wearing nightguards, including:
Prevent Teeth Damage
Teeth grinding can subject your teeth to tooth enamel erosion. This causes heightened sensitivity to temperature variations and makes your teeth more vulnerable to decay. When the decay penetrates the tooth’s hard layer, you are likely to develop infections.Â
Teeth grinding also causes damage by cracking weak teeth and wearing them out. The surface of your teeth can easily handle the force of chewing and biting, but the additional stress from clenching and grinding is not good for them.Â
A nightguard helps prevent tooth fractures and painful dental issues.Â
Prevents Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) links the skull and jaw and affects the muscles involved in chewing. When you clench your teeth during sleep, you apply pressure on the TMJ, leading to its misalignment.Â
TMJ disorders cause headaches, ear pain, and chewing difficulties. They can also cause damage to the articular disk, which is irreparable.Â
A nightguard will help you prevent symptoms of TMJ disorders as it eases the tension placed on the TMJ muscles.
Prevent Chronic Headaches
Chronic headaches and neck pain are usually the primary symptoms of bruxism and are caused by tensed muscles in the mouth, neck, shoulders, and jawbone. A custom-made nightguard relaxes the muscles and prevents you from grinding and clenching your teeth, allowing you to relieve headaches and prevent them.
To learn more about the custom nightguards we offer at North Alabama Smiles, visit our office at 55 Golf view Dr NE #5467, Arab, AL 35016, or call (256) 586-8100.
