Did you know that some 30 to 40 million Americans grind their teeth at night?
That’s right!
What’s more, many of these individuals aren’t aware of what they’re doing to their teeth and gums. Most only learn of this habit after someone else, like their sleeping partner, tells them about it. Or once they experience the painful symptoms of teeth grinding.
The problem is, nocturnal teeth grinding or bruxism can damage and wear away the teeth. After all, the crushing force of the adult teeth can be up to 200 pounds per square inch.
The good news is, a nightguard can protect your teeth and gums from the incredible force caused by teeth grinding. Visit SportingSmiles today and get a custom-fit teeth grinding guard at a fraction of the cost.
But since bruxism isn’t always apparent, how then can you determine the need for a bite guard? There are some sure signs that will tell you exactly that, and we’ve listed the top ones you should be on the lookout for. Keep reading to learn about these symptoms of teeth grinding!
You Often Wake Up with a Headache and a Sore or Painful Jaw
Headaches are often the most common complaint among people with sleep-related bruxism. They usually experience it right after waking up, or throughout the morning. Soreness or pain in the jaw also often accompanies these headaches.
You may be suffering from these aches and sores because you’re grinding your teeth. This can stress and strain your jaw muscles, and they may end up overworked.
As a result, your jaw muscles become inflamed, which can then cause pain or soreness in your face. This tension may also be what’s causing your morning headaches.
Night guards can help lessen the force at which you grind your teeth while asleep. They serve as a “dental guard” by acting as a barrier or cushion between your teeth.
As such, they lighten the tension and stress that you place on your teeth when you clench hard on your jaw at night. They also help preserve your teeth’s enamel and dentin that grinding can wear away. This cushioning effect then helps minimize, even prevent jaw pain and headaches.
Your Jaw Makes Clicking or Popping Sounds
You may be grinding your teeth so much at night that it has affected the position of your jaw joints. If this happens, your jaw can make clicking, popping, or even snapping noises. These sounds are most noticeable whenever you open your mouth to bite, chew, or talk.
Pain or limited movement in the jaw can also accompany these noises. Either way, you’d want to address this problem ASAP, as it can lead to TMJ disorders. These painful jaw problems already affect 10 million Americans, and you don’t want to be one of them.
You can prevent bruxism from worsening by using a dental night guard. This oral appliance can keep your jaw aligned as it lessens your teeth’s clenching and biting force. Less force means reduced risks of damaging your jaw which can make it click, pop, or snap.
Your Teeth Have Become More Sensitive
Considering how powerful your jaw muscles are, it’s easy to see how it could damage your teeth. If you focus that power and strength on your teeth, you’ll soon wear down your teeth’s enamel.
Keep in mind that enamel is the hardest mineral found in the human body. It’s the substance that helps give your teeth its structure, form, and hardness. It also protects and encases your teeth’s sensitive nerves.
As such, wearing down the enamel means stripping away the protective layer of your teeth. This then exposes the nerves in your teeth, making them more sensitive to temperature. You may even feel mouth pain when you eat or drink cold, hot, sweet, or acidic foods and beverages.
All these can happen due to your nighttime teeth grinding habits. If you experience tooth sensitivity, it’s best to wear teeth night guards. This way, you can protect your teeth from further damage.
You Can’t Remember How You Got a Chipped or Cracked Tooth
Over time, teeth grinding can wear away so much enamel that your teeth become prone to damages. If you have a chipped or cracked tooth but weren’t in an accident, it may due to bruxism.
There are other visible signs pointing to the need for a dental guard, such as shorter front teeth. The tips of your front teeth may also look too flat or smooth.
Excessive teeth grinding can also wear away and flatten the curved crown of the molars. In severe cases of bruxism, these back teeth can become flat or pitted.
Don’t let bruxism wreak more havoc to your teeth — get a bite guard ASAP. Those small chips and cracks will only get bigger if you expose them to more grinding.
Your Gums Constantly Swell or Bleed
The pressure from teeth clenching and grinding can also cause the gums to recede. Recessed gums are easy to bleed and swell, and they’re often a source of mouth pain.
Moreover, gum recession allows “pockets” to form between your teeth and gum line. If this happens, disease-causing bacteria can get into and accumulate in these gaps.
This can then lead to gum disease, which is the primary cause of permanent tooth loss. It’s the main reason behind 178 million Americans having at least one missing tooth.
Now, keep in mind that once you lose a permanent tooth, there’s no growing or getting it back. That’s why you should consider dental guards as soon as you notice these symptoms of receding gums.
Get a Night Guard for Sound Sleep without Teeth Grinding Sounds
There you have it, all the signs telling you that you need a night guard during bedtime. These symptoms all point out to bruxism, which if left untreated, can put your oral health at serious risk. The loud grinding sounds you make can also affect your partner’s sleep.
That’s why the sooner you wear a dental guard, the better for everyone’s sake.
Don’t let teeth grinding get in the way of your (and everyone else’s) sleep and health. Check out our selection of teeth grinding guards now so you can keep your biters protected at night! We also have bite guards specifically made for people who need to wear retainers.
