Over 10% of patients worldwide deal with nighttime grinding and clenching, also known as Bruxism. Nighttime clenching and grinding is most often caused by missing teeth, an abnormal bite, or crooked teeth as well as sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea. Unfortunately, Bruxism can be extremely painful and damaging to your teeth. Luckily, night guards, also known as dental guards were designed to prevent your top and bottom teeth from touching to eliminate any potential damage Bruxism can cause.
Most cases of nighttime grinding and clenching can be easily treated with a simple night guard while you sleep. As you clench or grind at night the dental
guard acts as a barrier between your upper and lower jaw cushioning the muscles. This not only protects your jaw and face from pain but also protects your teeth and enamel. There are two different types of night guards available on the market, ones you can buy at any drugstore and ones that can only be obtained through your dentist. There are an incredible amount of benefits by choosing a custom night guard through your dentist as they are made custom to your teeth and offer the most protection and durability.