Effective bruxism treatment, with easy-to-wear and care-for nightguards
If you often wake up with a sore jaw or a headache, you may want to visit Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA to determine if you are suffering from bruxism.
According to the ADA, bruxism or teeth clenching affects 10 to 15 percent of adult Americans.
Do Children Suffer From Teeth Grinding?
Young children, typically under the age of 5, may also develop a habit of clenching their jaws, particularly while their teeth are developing. Most of these children outgrow their habit without any treatment and with no damage to their teeth. However, in severe cases, Dr. Jonathan Golab may recommend some forms of treatment as part of our dentistry.
Mouthguard for Treatment of Bruxism
Involuntary teeth clenching usually occurs in the night while you are asleep. This sleep-related disorder can cause tooth and jaw pain, sore gums, and even damage to your teeth.
There are several ways you can alleviate the symptoms of bruxism. A night mouthguard is one such treatment option.
A night mouthguard is worn before you go to bed. Wearing a mouthguard can help keep your jaws separated and diffuse the pressure exerted by teeth clenching so that your teeth don’t get damaged. There are various types of mouthguard available, based on quality.
Stock mouthguards are ill-fitting, weak, and uncomfortable, and make it difficult to breathe or drop off to sleep. Boil-and-bite mouthguards need to be boiled in water before they can be molded to fit your mouth. But the most superior mouthguards are custom-made.
At Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA, we fabricate night mouthguards based on the impressions of your teeth. These mouthguards offer a superior fit and can last much longer than either stock or boil-and-bite mouthguards. They are also very comfortable to wear and prevent breathing problems as well.
Night mouthguards may also be able to relieve symptoms of other disorders as well:
Obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that causes a person to stop breathing while sleeping. The cessation in breathing can occur several hundred times in the night, prompting a person to jerk awake to breathe.
Sleep apnea can result in oxygen deprivation to the brain and increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. It also causes sleep deprivation.
A custom-made night mouthguard for obstructive sleep apnea pushes your lower jaw forward so that your airways remain open as you sleep.
Snoring
Snoring occurs due to vibrations of soft tissue in your upper airways. A night mouthguard works on the same treatment principle as sleep apnea to treat snoring. It pulls the jaw and tongue forward so that the airways are sufficiently open.
If your snoring is interfering with your personal and social life, talk to us about your mouthguard options.
To make sure your night mouthguard lasts a long time, you need to keep it clean and check for signs of damage regularly. Put in an order for a new mouthguard as soon as you start noticing tears or holes in the device. A night mouthguard for adults can last up to 2 to 3 years.
If you suspect you suffer from bruxism, sleep apnea or snoring, call us at (469) 444-2119 to schedule an appointment so that we can work with you to come up with a suitable treatment plan.