Do You Need a Mouthguard?

March 1, 2018

Filed under: Blog,Dental Health,General — Tags: , , , , — southlakedental @ 5:08 pm

Have you ever considered wearing a mouthguard? If you’re like many dental patients, you probably associate mouthguards with the safety gear that football players wear. If you’re not a football player yourself, you’ve probably never considered that you might need a mouthguard. But mouthguards can benefit other patients as well.

Athletes

Football is a rough sport, but it’s not the only one that poses a danger to your mouth and teeth. The American Dental Association recommends mouthguards for athletes participating in a number of different sports.

Basketball, handball, racquetball, baseball, softball, and soccer, are all sports that carry the risk of getting hit in the mouth by a fast-moving projectile. Track, acrobatics, skiing, surfing, martial arts, skydiving, and track and field events all come with the risk of impacts or falls that could cause a mouth or tooth injury. If you participate in any sport where a mouth injury is possible, wearing a mouthguard can protect your teeth, tongue, and gums and potentially save you a lot of money in dental bills.

Nighttime Teeth Grinders

Do you ever wake up with a stiff, sore jaw or a headache? Are your teeth chipped or worn down? You may be grinding your teeth in your sleep. This is called bruxism, and it can damage your teeth, cause pain and difficulty speaking and chewing, and contribute to conditions like Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD).

While daytime teeth grinding might be a bad habit that you can overcome with willpower, there’s not much you can do to stop yourself from grinding your teeth in your sleep. Nighttime teeth grinding can be caused by many things, including stress or certain medications. A mouthguard designed for wearing while you sleep can protect your teeth from nighttime tooth grinding.

Your dentist can create a custom mouthguard that fits the precise size and shape of your mouth and is optimized for your needs, whether you’re an athlete or a person suffering from bruxism. Talk to us about whether you need a mouthguard at your next appointment.

Bruxism: Do You Grind Your Teeth?

August 1, 2017

Filed under: Blog,Dental Health — Tags: , , , — southlakedental @ 2:41 pm

Has your sleeping partner ever nudged you in the middle of the night because your teeth-grinding was disturbing their sleep? Do you often wake up with a sore jaw, painful molars, and a headache? Are your molars worn down or do you tend to dislodge fillings frequently? If the answers to any of these questions are “yes,” you might have a problem with bruxism, more commonly known as grinding your teeth. Check out what bruxism is and how you can stop.

What Is Bruxism?

Bruxism is, simply stated, when you grind your teeth. Sometimes it also includes jaw-clenching. You might do it when you are frustrated, when you are sleeping, or simply as a matter of habit. The dangers associated with bruxism are pain in the head, jaw, and teeth. You might also experience neck or shoulder pain from being tense while you are grinding your teeth.

Self-Help Tips

If you suspect that you are grinding your teeth, there are a few things you can do that might help. First, make sure you have your stress levels under control. Many people clench and grind when they’re anxious. Try deep-breathing exercises, yoga, talking to friends, muscle relaxation exercises, and other stress-reduction techniques. Secondly, if you notice that you’re clenching, make a concerted effort to stop. Once you are aware of the problem, you might be able to control it. This is, of course, only true if you are clenching and grinding during the day, when you’re awake.

See Your Dentist

Those who don’t find relief with self-help techniques or who grind during their sleep should see their dentists. He or she can fit you for a night guard. This is an appliance that you put in your mouth at night to stop you from grinding your teeth. It can save you a lot of pain, as well as wear and tear on your teeth.

If you are having symptoms of bruxism, please give our office a call so we can create a night guard for you or give you other tips to relieve your pain.