People Who Grind Their Teeth

20 Percent Of Americans Grind Their Teeth – Do You?

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While there are various reports suggesting that between 8 percent and 31 percent of Americans grind their teeth at night, the accepted percentage usually sits right at 20. There is a good chance that you may be a member of this group. Involuntary grinding of the teeth – also known as bruxism – is frequently accompanied by moderate to excessive clenching of the jaw in between episodes.

What are the Signs?

Tell-tale signs that you are a sufferer include headaches in the morning, jaw muscles that hurt for no reason, and heavily worn dental surfaces. If you have crowns or fillings installed in your back teeth, you may have noticed that they frequently break or wear out. Bruxism will often be diagnosed by your dentist after a checkup, as the signs will be fairly evident to them. 

Symptoms such as morning headaches, jaw pain, ear pain, tooth sensitivity, and damage to the enamel on the surface of your teeth can all be signs of bruxism, or teeth grinding. The good news is wearing a custom-fit teeth grinding guard from SportingSmiles can help protect your teeth, as well as minimize symptoms. 

While there is some evidence to suggest that bruxism is a hereditary condition, there are also some studies that suggest a connection between nightly teeth grinding and stress. Caffeine intake has also been linked to a higher incidence rate of bruxism. The causes are not always clear, but if you are experiencing increased sensitivity in your teeth, worn enamel, or cracked crowns or fillings, then you should definitely ask your dentist if you may be a sufferer.

Guard Options

To counteract the damaging wear on your teeth, SportingSmiles offers you a choice of four different types of grinding guards.

Flexible Super Hard

Soft night guard

Made of 3mm of flexible material, this type of night guard is comfortable and soft. If you clench your teeth more than you grind them, this guard is for you. However, if you are sensitive to things in your mouth and have experienced gagging with a night guard before, then you may want to experiment with a slimmer guard.

Single-layer hard night guard

We have incorporated 1mm of a denser protective material to minimize the size of this grinding guard. If you clench your jaw but only grind your teeth moderately – and if you want a grinding guard that feels the most comfortable – try this model for nightly use.

A dual laminate night guard

This guard combines 1mm of softer core material and a 2mm strip of a shell-like exterior. If your clenching is moderate but you grind your teeth heavily, this guard prevents the motion from destroying the material and gives your guard a longer lifespan.

Choosing the right teeth grinding guard is important in order to ensure you receive optimal protection. To learn more about choosing the right guard, read “How Do I Select the Right Teeth Grinding Guard for Me?

A hard flexible night guard

Made of 3mm of highly-dense materials, the guard is somewhat flexible and extremely durable. When you suffer from strong clenching as well as severe night grinding, this is the most effective guard to protect your teeth while being comfortable enough for nightly wear. Contact us today to order your set of impression materials. Once you send us back your impressions, we will build your night guard to order. As soon as it’s ready we will ship it straight to you. Invest in your smile and protect your teeth from the damage caused by night grinding.

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1 comment

Dave May 17, 2021 - 1:45 pm

I’ve always grinded my teeth. I didn’t know stress caused some of it but I did just order my night guard. Hoping it helps me stop grinding.

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