Night Guards

Do you often wake up with a dull, throbbing headache? Does your jaw feel tight or sore the moment you open your eyes? Or perhaps your partner has complained about a strange squeaking or clicking sound coming from your side of the bed while you sleep.

If these scenarios sound familiar, you may be suffering from bruxism—grinding or clenching your teeth. While it might seem like a minor annoyance, untreated bruxism can lead to significant dental health issues, chronic pain, and expensive restorative procedures down the road.

Fortunately, there is a simple, non-invasive, and highly effective solution: the dental night guard. In this guide, we will explore exactly what bruxism is, why it happens, the dangers of ignoring it, and why a custom-fitted night guard is one of the best investments you can make for your oral health.

Understanding Bruxism

Bruxism is characterized by the involuntary grinding, gnashing, or clenching of teeth. While some people clench their jaw during the day, sleep bruxism is generally considered more problematic because it is harder to control. Since you are asleep, you have no way of knowing how hard you are biting down.

To put the force into perspective: when you chew food, you exert a moderate amount of pressure. However, during sleep bruxism episodes, patients can exert immense pressure on their teeth. This is a massive amount of force for your enamel and jaw joints to withstand night after night.

Why Do We Grind?

The causes of bruxism are not always clear-cut, but it is often attributed to a combination of physical and psychological factors. Common triggers include:

• Stress and Anxiety: This is a leading cause. Tension from the day often manifests physically during sleep.
• Sleep Issues: There is a strong correlation between breathing issues during sleep and teeth grinding.
• Lifestyle Factors: High consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco can increase the likelihood of grinding.
• Medications: Certain prescription medications can contribute to grinding as a side effect.
• Malocclusion: A misalignment of the teeth or jaw can sometimes trigger the body to grind in an attempt to find a comfortable resting position.

The Silent Damage: Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Bruxism

Many people assume that because they have “always done it,” grinding isn’t a big deal. However, the cumulative effect of bruxism is destructive. It is a slow process, but the signs are unmistakable.

1. Accelerated Tooth Wear

Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but it is not invincible. Constant grinding acts like sandpaper, slowly wearing down the pointed cusps of your molars and flattening your teeth. Over time, this exposes the softer inner layers of the tooth, leading to severe sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.

2. Micro-Cracks and Fractures

The immense pressure of clenching can cause micro-cracks in your teeth. While invisible to the naked eye initially, these cracks can grow over time, eventually causing a tooth to break or split. This often necessitates crowns, root canals, or even tooth extraction and replacement with implants.

3. Gum Recession

The forces applied to the teeth can damage the supporting bone and gum tissue, causing the gums to recede. This exposes the tooth roots, increasing the risk of decay and sensitivity.

4. TMJ Disorders

Your Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. Chronic grinding overworks the muscles and puts strain on this joint. This can lead to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), characterized by clicking or popping sounds in the jaw, lockjaw, chronic facial pain, and earaches.

5. Tension Headaches

If you wake up with headaches that originate in the temples, it is likely due to the temporal muscles (the muscles that control jaw movement) being overworked all night long.

The Solution: What is a Night Guard?

A night guard (also known as an occlusal guard or bite splint) is a removable dental appliance that fits over your upper or lower teeth. It acts as a protective barrier, preventing the surfaces of your upper and lower teeth from touching.

It is important to understand that a night guard does not necessarily stop you from grinding your teeth. Instead, it protects your teeth from the damage caused by the grinding.

When you wear a night guard, you are biting into a material that is softer than your enamel. This disperses the force of the clench across the entire arch of the jaw rather than concentrating it on a single tooth, and it provides a “cushion” that reduces the strain on your jaw muscles and joints.

The Critical Difference: Store-Bought vs. Custom-Made

If you suspect you grind your teeth, you might be tempted to run to the local pharmacy and pick up an over-the-counter (OTC) “boil-and-bite” mouthguard. While these are certainly cheaper upfront, they are fundamentally different from the custom appliances provided by a dental office. Here is why the difference matters.

1. Fit and Retention

Store-bought guards come in generic sizes. Even the “boil-and-bite” variety offers a mediocre fit. Because they are not designed for your specific dental anatomy, they often feel bulky and loose. They may fall out during the night, or worse, their poor fit can actually encourage more chewing and grinding as the body tries to adjust to the foreign object.

A custom night guard is fabricated from a precise digital scan or physical impression of your teeth. It snaps into place perfectly, hugging every contour of your smile. It stays secure all night without the need to clench to keep it in place.

2. Comfort and Breathing

Generic guards are often made of thick material to accommodate a wide range of jaw sizes. This bulk can make it difficult to breathe comfortably and can trigger the gag reflex in some people.

Custom guards are significantly slimmer. Because they are made to fit your teeth exactly, we can use less material while maintaining superior protection. Most patients find that after a night or two, they forget they are even wearing one.

3. Material Durability

OTC guards are made of softer, generic plastic that wears down quickly under the force of heavy grinding. Heavy grinders may chew through a store-bought guard in a matter of weeks.

Professional dental labs use high-quality materials. Depending on your specific needs, your dentist can prescribe a guard that is hard on the outside for durability and soft on the inside for comfort, or a purely hard acrylic for severe grinders. These materials are designed to last for years with proper care.

4. Protecting Your Bite Alignment

Perhaps the most dangerous risk of OTC guards is the potential to shift your bite. If a store-bought guard does not cover all of your teeth evenly—for example, if it only covers the front teeth or doesn’t account for your back molars—it can cause your back teeth to move or your jaw to shift into a painful misalignment.

A custom guard is balanced by your dentist to ensure that when you bite down, your jaw is in a neutral, safe position that protects your long-term alignment.

What to Expect: Getting Your Night Guard

Getting a custom night guard is a simple, painless two-step process at our office.

Visit 1: The Impressions

During your first visit, we will examine your teeth to confirm that a night guard is the right solution for you. We will then take impressions of your upper and lower teeth. We also measure how your upper and lower jaws come together. These records are sent to a specialized dental laboratory.

Visit 2: The Fitting

A week or two later, you will return to pick up your guard. We will have you try it on and check the fit. We will make small adjustments to the surface of the guard to ensure your bite is perfectly balanced. We will also give you instructions on how to clean and care for the appliance.

Investing in Your Sleep and Your Smile

It is easy to prioritize cosmetic treatments like whitening, but preventive measures like night guards are the unsung heroes of dental health.

Think of a night guard as an insurance policy for your smile. The cost of a custom guard is a fraction of the cost of fixing a single cracked tooth with a crown—let alone a full-mouth rehabilitation required for severe erosion.

Beyond the financial savings, there is the quality of life factor. Waking up without a headache; enjoying a breakfast without a sore jaw; knowing that you aren’t grinding away your enamel while you dream. That peace of mind is invaluable.

If you suspect you are grinding your teeth, or if you simply want to protect your existing dental work, ask us about a custom night guard at your next appointment. Your teeth—and your sleep quality—will thank you.