Teeth
grinding and night guards are often the most commonly
associated remedy for Bruxism. Bruxism is the oral
condition that involves teeth grinding and (or) teeth
clenching. This habit is mostly present during sleep
times at night, but is also present sometimes as a
diurnal habit that is carried on during the day times as
well.
While day
time teeth grinding is comparatively easy to detect and
take corrective measures for, it is the night time teeth
grinding habit that is the more difficult to deal with.
Night time
teeth grinding habit
Night time
teeth grinding involves specifically those cases that
are solely nocturnal and is not visible during the day
times. This condition is often left undetected unless
someone else notices the condition. Many times night
time ‘teeth grinding’ is only diagnosed after much
damage to teeth has set in.
Since
night time teeth grinding goes by unnoticed, the
condition can end up causing severe damage to teeth
resulting in teeth loss and other associated
problems.
The
necessity of night guard for teeth grinding
cases
The
intension of protecting teeth from the intense wear and
tear that teeth grinding can cause is what necessitates
the use of some device to minimize the damage. When
teeth grinding persists as a chronic case it usually
leads to early symptoms of damage to teeth in the form
of increased sensitivity of teeth and pain on the sides
of face and jaw.
An
examination by a specialist can verify the existence of
teeth grinding at night when a clear identification is
not easily available. Usually a night guard or a mouth
guard is prescribed as a damage control method to manage
the teeth grinding habit.
Things to
keep in mind when trying on night guards
- Night
guards are basically mouth guards in the form of a
bite pad that is for use during sleep times at night.
They are made of high grade material and may come in
different types.
- This
device works by creating a barrier between the upper
and lower teeth so that the eroding effects of the
teeth grinding can be taken on by the night guard
instead of the teeth themselves.
- Although
night guards are readily available in the market, it
is advisable to go in for well fitted ones
only.
- Night
guards are not the solution to teeth grinding. They
are only devices of damage
control.
