Bruxism and Mouth Guards

Bruxism is a dental condition that is commonly known as teeth grinding or clenching. This involuntary habit can lead to tooth damage and bone loss, jaw pain jaw muscle soreness and headaches. For the most part, our patients experience this at night, usually while sleeping, and, particularly when they are feeling more stressed. 

 

Drs. Hubbard, Keynton Sill and Mitnick can help provide resources on how to holistically reduce the effects of bruxism on your body by reducing stress, such as meditation. However, this may not eliminate the issue altogether. In order to protect your teeth and jaw, we design custom night guards, a tray that is worn over the teeth during sleep. This protective barrier prevents the teeth from grinding against each other and helps minimize the long term effects of bruxism. It is also important to screen for sleep disordered breathing when discussing bruxism, as it is a common sign of sleep related breathing problems. 

 

We also recommend mouth guards to protect your teeth, gums and jaws during contact sports. The durable and shock-absorbing material will fit like a glove so it’s comfortable to wear and reduces the likelihood of having your teeth fractured or knocked out.