Do you wake up with severe headaches and sore jaws? If yes, then this might be a symptom of nighttime teeth-clenching. But what is the main reason for this condition? Nighttime teeth clenching might seem like a harmless habit, but it leads to further complications as well. This makes it important to keep your smile protected at night.
Good news!
Considering your dental health, orthodontics has introduced dental gear to protect your smile at night. Nighttime mouth guards, also known as night guards, are here to help you out. This blog will help you understand what nighttime teeth clenching is and why it is important to wear a night guard while you sleep.
Understanding Nighttime Teeth Clenching
Nighttime teeth clenching, also known as bruxism, is a dental condition experienced by multiple people. It is an involuntary action of clenching or grinding the teeth, mostly when you are sleeping. Bruxism, if left untreated, can further lead to dental complications such as wear and tear of teeth, damaged enamel, jaw pain, or headaches.
Reasons For Teeth Clenching
What causes nighttime teeth clenching? The following are some reasons:
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Stress or Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are some of the main causes of nighttime teeth clenching. If you are going through anxiety, your brain stays awake even when you sleep, leading to involuntary actions. The muscle tension in your jaws causes clenching of the teeth at night.
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Sleep Disorder
Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can be a reason for teeth clenching. It is a condition in which breathing stops in a person, leading to jaw tension. This makes a person hold the jaws tightly together and clench them to respond to the blockage. Hence, if this problem is left untreated, it can cause serious health issues.
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Malocclusion
Malocclusion is a dental term used for misaligned bites and can be the reason for clenching teeth at night. If your upper and lower jaws do not come together perfectly, they naturally shift to find a better position for the teeth. Therefore, to avoid teeth clenching, you will have to treat malocclusions as well.
Understanding a Mouth Guard For Teeth Clenching
Mouth guards for teeth clenching, also known as night guards, are protective gears that are placed inside your mouth. They are made of durable plastic material and act as a protective barrier between the jaws.
When you wear a night guard, it prevents your jaws from meeting each other and avoids bruxism. Night guards are available in various types that are pre-made and can be customized as well.
Benefits of Using a Night Guard For Teeth Clenching
Teeth clenching at night can be prevented by wearing a night guard in the following ways:
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Protects Your Smile
The primary benefit a night guard offers is protection for your smile throughout the night. If people with severe headaches leave their smiles unprotected throughout the night, this can result in dental complications.
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Avoids Tooth Damage
Severe teeth grinding leads to damaging the enamel layer of the smile. This makes your teeth sensitive to hot or cold objects. Not only this but wearing a night guard also prevents broken or chipped teeth.
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Improves Sleep Quality
Teeth clenching in sleep can cause severe pain to your jaws, compromising your sleep. When you wear a night guard it keeps your jaws in place and relaxes them throughout the night. Wear a night guard to wake up with no headaches and jaw pain, and improve the quality of your sleep.
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Custom Fit For Comfort
When it comes to wearing a dental product in your mouth throughout the night, your comfort is always the priority. You do not want to wear a poorly fitted night guard which irritates your gums and cheeks. For this sake, you can get your night guard customized according to the size of your mouth for a perfect fit and enhanced comfort.
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Easy To Clean
Night guards are removable dental devices that are easier to clean. As they stay in your mouth throughout the night, there are higher chances of developing dental plaques. Simply remove it, clean it and it is ready to be used again.
Tips For Keeping Your Night Guard Maintained
To improve the longevity of your night guard, the following are the tips you need to follow to keep it maintained:
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Rinse Before and After Use
Do not forget to rinse your night guard before putting it on in your mouth. This makes sure no dust particles remain on the surface of your night guard. Not only this, but it also prevents germs from getting in contact with your mouth. Repeat the process when you take off your night guard to prepare it for the next use.
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Proper Storage
When you remove your night guard, do not place it anywhere on the surface, as it can catch germs and bacteria, compromising your dental health. Place it inside a plastic case that comes with it for its storage. This helps you keep your night guard safe and prevents losing it.
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Gentle Brushing
Another way to clean your night guard is by using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Gently brush your night guard and remove debris or plaque accumulation.
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Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene
Ensure oral hygiene before putting your night guard in your mouth. Have your meal, and make sure you brush and floss your teeth properly with no remaining food particles. This keeps your night guard safe and improves its longevity.
Choosing Smilepath For Protecting Your Smile at Night
If you are looking for the best night guard for teeth clenching, Smilepath is here to help you out. Get your hands on a customized night guard and keep your smile protected throughout the night in the following way:
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Make Order For Customized Night Guard
The first step is to make an order for your night guard kit. You will receive an impression kit at your doorstep.
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Create Your Smile Impressions
The impression kit comes with everything you will need to create your impressions. It has a booklet with all the instructions. Read them and create your smile impressions at home. Once done, send them back to us for customization of your night guards.
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Protect Your Smile
With the help of your smile impressions, we will create a customized night guard for your teeth protection. Receive them at your doorstep and wear them while you sleep.
Smilepath offers superior-quality dental products with free shipping Australia-wide.
To sum it up, if you experience the symptoms of bruxism when you wake up or during the night, start protecting your smile at night. Frequent jaw pains and headaches are one of the major side effects of nighttime teeth clenching. Wearing a night guard is the right solution for your smile. Opt for a suitable and cost-friendly customized night guard and prevent damaging your teeth.
FAQs
If you clench your teeth at night and want to avoid it, get a customized night guard for your smile.
If you wake up with a severe headache, sore jaws, and toothache, it is a sign that you clench your teeth at night. To protect your smile from clenching, you need a nighttime mouth guard.
Wearing a dental product at night might cause a slight discomfort at first. Once you get used to putting a foreign object in your mouth, you can wear it comfortably.
Night guard is only designed for the protection of your smile. It only changes the position of your teeth when it is too tight for your teeth.
Yes! A properly fitted night guard allows one to speak and communicate perfectly. If you find difficulty while talking, change your night guard.
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