Who hasn't woken up from a bad dream or a poor night's sleep to discover their jaw feels a little sore? When this becomes a regular occurrence, it may be time to speak with a dental professional about a nightguard. Your dental professional may even notice your enamel showing signs of wear or see chips and cracks in your fillings. These are typically the first signs that you grind or clench your teeth at night.
Grinding or clenching, also known as bruxism, is often caused by stress, sleep disorders, a misaligned bite, acid reflux, or some medication side effect. Smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeine beverages also increase the likelihood of grinding. While it can be challenging to diagnose the exact reason for grinding or clenching your teeth at night (who doesn't experience stress?), addressing the habit early on is vital. Long-term teeth grinding left untreated can wear your enamel down to your teeth' second layer, the softer dentin material.
Repairing broken fillings and making any necessary bite adjustments is the first step to treating grinding or clenching. After that, a dentist-recommended mouthguard (sometimes referred to as a nightguard or splint) can be helpful to wear while you sleep. It acts as a barrier between your teeth, so your enamel doesn't wear down as you grind. Furthermore, it can even help you break the grinding habit itself!