Teeth grinding (bruxism) can significantly affect your dental health, which could lead to serious dental complications. Using mouth guards can help protect your teeth. There are various options to support your oral health across different situations. Read on to find out more!
What Causes Bruxism?
Bruxism occurs when you unknowingly grind or clench your teeth while you are awake or asleep. It often occurs when you are feeling stressed. Repeated clenching or grinding will gradually strain your teeth and jaw, leading to dental pain, soreness at the jaw, headaches and other complications like cracked teeth. Unfortunately, not everyone notices that they are a bruxer as the clenching and grinding movements are normalized. Mouthguards can help protect your teeth against these destructive forces.
Night bruxism, which occurs while you are asleep, can be challenging to address. It may occur in association with sleep disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea. While you are still sleeping, you are unaware of these excessive forces, and you have no control of the damage to the oral environment. Mouthguards are typically prescribed to treat night bruxism. If not promptly treated, these additional complications, including cracked teeth or facial pain, can impact your daily activities and make it difficult to speak, eat, or drink.
How Mouth Guards Help With Bruxism
Mouth guards are a type of dental appliance that covers your teeth. Over-the-counter options are available, but they are not custom fit to your teeth and are typically not comfortable.
Most mouth guards are custom-made by a dental clinic or lab using a digital scan of your teeth recorded during your dental appointment. By doing so, mouth guards can be customized to fit and protect your teeth with precision. They are usually more comfortable than the over-the-counter options.
When you wear your mouth guard, they will cover all surfaces of your teeth and parts of your gum. Doing so prevents your teeth from knocking hard into each other, preventing them from cracking and preventing further damage. The mouth guard’s material is sufficiently soft to be comfortable while still providing full coverage to protect the teeth and gums.
How often you need to wear mouth guards depends on the severity of your bruxism. For night bruxism, you will need to wear a mouth guard through the night while you sleep.
Signs You Need a Mouth Guard for Bruxism
If you experience any of the following signs, you may need to use mouth guards to protect against bruxism.
Frequent Facial/Jaw Soreness
When you frequently clench or grind your teeth, your jaw muscles can become inflamed and cause pain and discomfort when you try to chew or talk. It may also involve clicking or popping sounds whenever you move your mouth.
Tooth Sensitivity
Bruxism gradually wears down your teeth’s outer layer which is called enamel. This is responsible for protecting your teeth and their delicate inner layers. Although enamel is naturally durable, it can be damaged by bruxism and lead to pain or discomfort when eating or drinking.
Tooth Damage
Chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged teeth are a common sign of bruxism. This can impair your ability to chew and increase the risk of cavities, which can cause further damage. Besides using mouth guards, you may need additional dental treatment like fillings and crowns to repair your damaged teeth.
Frequent Headaches
The pressure exerted by grinding or clenching teeth can generate tension in the muscles in the jaw and temples. This can spread to the head and neck, resulting in debilitating headaches that could wake you up in the middle of the night.
Gum Recession
If you notice your gums have receded or your teeth feel loose, this may also indicate bruxism. The pressure and force exerted by grinding and clenching can gradually affect gum health, leading to tooth misalignment and loosening.
Types of Mouth Guards for Bruxism
Mouth guards for bruxism are available over the counter or can be custom-made by a dentist to fit the wearer’s mouth.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Options
OTC mouth guards are available at pharmacies and select online stores, offering an affordable mouth guard option to prevent bruxism. These are further divided into two distinct types:
- Stock: These are one-size-fits-all mouth guards suitable for most mouth types. Because of their preformed nature, they tend to be bulky and may be uncomfortable to wear.
- Boil-and-bite: These mouth guards must first be softened with hot water, and you may then bite down on them to achieve a semi-custom fit. They conform to your teeth better than stock ones but may not be as comfortable as custom-made ones.
While cost-effective, these OTC options are not as durable as custom-made mouth guards and may wear out quickly depending on the severity of bruxism. Also, it may cause your teeth to shift haphazardly and may change your bite when used inappropriately.
Custom-Fit Options
Custom-made mouth guards are only produced at dental clinics or laboratories and are made using a traditional impression or a digital impression of your teeth for a more precise fit. These are also divided into three different categories. With proper care and cleaning, most custom mouth guards can last several months or years.
Soft Mouth Guards
This type of mouth guard is made from a pliable, rubbery material, such as silicone, that provides soft, gentle cushioning for the teeth when worn. These are typically reserved for mild cases of bruxism, in which there is very little clenching or grinding of teeth. The soft material may be more comfortable for long-term wear, but may wear down more quickly than other materials.
Hard Mouth Guards
For moderate to severe mouth grinding, hard mouth guards are made of durable, rigid acrylic resin or a similar material, providing heavy-duty protection for the teeth and gums. Although they may be slightly uncomfortable to wear, they are durable and long-lasting.
Dual-Laminate Mouth Guards
Sometimes called hybrid or bilaminar mouth guards, these feature a combination of a cushioned inner layer and a durable outer layer that fits comfortably to protect your teeth and gums. These are designed to provide a comfortable fit and may also treat moderate to severe teeth grinding, combining the properties of both hard and soft mouth guards into a single mouth guard.
Keen to learn more about which mouth guard may be suitable for your dental needs? Set an appointment with TES Clinic to meet our team of dental professionals today and learn everything you need to know to look after your oral health.