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Do you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw or dull headaches? You may be grinding or clenching your teeth at night while you sleep. Nightguards can be a great treatment for these issues, as they can lead to serious dental damage without intervention.
Custom nightguards can help patients get relief from headaches, jaw pain, and stress. At Sunset Dentistry, we have several nightguard options for our patients. Contact our office today for a consultation to see how we can help!
A night guard is needed to help protect the teeth from clenching and grinding when you are asleep. Teeth grinding can cause major damage and side effects such as worn down tooth enamel and jaw and neck pain.
These are some common signs and symptoms that you may need a nightguard:
You catch yourself clenching or grinding your teeth throughout the day
Your teeth have become sensitive to hot and cold foods or drinks
You have TMJ disorder
You wake up with chronic headaches, migraines, or jaw or facial pain
You wake up with jaw muscle pain
You suffer from sleep apnea
Bruxism is also known as “teeth grinding.” This is a condition where people grind their teeth during the night. It is most commonly seen in adults who are under stress. This is because of muscle tension and anxiety. When you are stressed out, your body releases adrenaline which causes your body to tense up. Your jaw muscles will then start to clench together.
If you don’t stop it or intervene, the effects of bruxism can cause damage to your teeth over time. Bruxism can put you at a higher risk of tooth decay, broken teeth or fractured teeth, and long-term tooth damage.
A nightguard is an oral appliance that is custom-made using an exact model of your teeth. Our dentist does this by taking a mold of your mouth so that the nightguard will fit perfectly. Once it has been created, it is placed on your teeth so that it covers them completely. It sits between your lower and upper teeth, and the rubber material of the nightguard prevents them from grinding together.
A soft nightguard is made of soft plastic and is best for patients who only have mild grinding problems. Soft nightguards are not meant to be a long-term solution and will need replacing after six months.
Hard nightguards are best for patients with more severe grinding problems and are made using hard acrylic material. These nightguards are extremely durable but more expensive than soft nightguards.
Hard nightguards are best for patients with more severe grinding problems and are made using hard acrylic material. These nightguards are extremely durable but more expensive than soft nightguards.
Properly caring for your nightguard can ensure that you get the most out of it and prolong its lifespan. Here are a few good tips for keeping your nightguard in top shape:
If you believe you suffer from teeth grinding or bruxism and think you could benefit from a nightguard, contact us today. Teeth grinding isn’t something to be taken lightly, and we would be happy to help ensure your oral health is taken care of.
Give us a call and set up an appointment with our dental team today.
Inner Sunset Location
919 Irving St Ste 101
San Francisco, CA 94122
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