Night Guards

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a common condition in which an individual clenches or grinds their teeth. Many people grind their teeth at night and are not aware of it. It's oftentimes the sleeping partner who hears it or the dentist who sees the damage. 

 

The jaw muscles are very strong, and these grinding forces can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage. Grinding can wear through the enamel of the teeth, or lead to cracking and chipping of the teeth. It can even affect the gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth, causing the gums to recede and contributing to bone loss around the teeth. In severe cases, it can even cause teeth to loosen.

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While there is not a cure for bruxism, there are steps we can take to help mitigate the damage it can cause. Night guards are a great way to help protect your teeth from the damaging forces of clenching and grinding. Night guards are made of an acrylic material that covers your teeth.

 

This directly protects your teeth from damage, while also helping the jaw muscles to relax and reduce pain.