One of the
most frequently heard “solutions” to Bruxism is the use
of Bruxism mouth guards. These are devices recommended
for use by people with grinding teeth and other
associated problems. The habit of (or in acute cases the
medical condition of) Bruxism exhibits symptoms of teeth
grinding or teeth clenching and the consequences thereof
includes jaw problems, facial pain, headaches and wear
and tear of teeth and gums.
What
necessitates Bruxism mouth
guards?
When the
teeth grinding motions of Bruxism persists over a long
duration of time, it leads to excessive rubbing and
gritting of the teeth which results in several teeth and
jaw disorders. Following are some of the common problems
associated with Bruxism teeth grinding that can make the
use of mouth guards necessary:
- The
edges of the teeth – especially the front teeth will
be worn down with the constant grinding.
- Minor
fractures develop over time and lead to chipping and
breakage of teeth
- Fractures
can proceed deep into the teeth and facilitate the
rapid progress of tooth decay
- Wear and
tear of teeth can cause teeth sensitivity and
intolerance to cold.
- Teeth
grinding can cause receding gum lines and encourage
inset of periodontal diseases.
- Bruxism
often leads to loose teeth which will eventually fall
off
- The
teeth grinding and teeth clenching motions also end up
exerting extreme pressure on the jaw bone and often
leads to deformation of the supporting bone mass of
teeth
What are
Bruxism mouth guards?
Mouth
guards are used by people suffering from acute symptoms
of Bruxism. They are pieces of plastic pads fitted to
teeth during sleep times when the Bruxism motions are
the most severe. These mouth guards take on the effects
of the constant clenching and grinding and leave the
teeth themselves free from the subsequent wear and tear.
Is Bruxism
mouth guard the solution to teeth
grinding?
The
possible intensity of some of the repercussions of teeth
grinding sometimes necessitates use of devices that can
prevent the wear and tear of teeth and gums. However it
needs to be kept in mind that Bruxism mouth guards
cannot stop the Bruxism symptoms. They can only prevent
damage to teeth to an extent.
The use of
mouth guards also discourages search for real causes of
the problem and its true solution. A solution to Bruxism
can be acquired through early use of holistic methods
and multi disciplinary ways of healing teeth grinding.
