A Night Guard for Teeth Clenching Can Give You Relief From TMJ Disorder

Are you suffering from the effects of grinding or clenching your teeth while you’re sleeping? If so, you may be experiencing bruxism. And if you live in Hamilton, Ontario, the team at Dentistry on Parkdale in Hamilton, Ontario, can address this with night guards.

What then is bruxism?

Bruxism is a common side effect of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Your mandible (lower jaw) is connected to your skull by this joint, which is located in front of the ears. The TMJ allows the jaw to open and close to speak, yawn, and eat. TMJ disorders can create difficulty with eating and speaking, and one of the most problematic side effects is bruxism.

Bruxism is the clinical term for clenching and grinding teeth while sleeping. Teeth clenching and grinding are biological reactions to fear, stress, and anger, so this isn’t abnormal. However, if you’re clenching your teeth when you’re asleep, you can suffer detrimental effects to your health and even severely damage your teeth and jaw. Fortunately, there are solutions and treatments that can help you manage your bruxism.

Bruxism and Teeth Clenching Relief in Hamilton Ontario

How does sleep bruxism differ from teeth clenching and grinding when you’re awake? When people are asleep, they are entirely unaware of what they’re doing, and in this case, the teeth clenching or grinding increases the risk of severe damage to the jaw and teeth.

If you suffer from sleep teeth clenching, you probably don’t grind your teeth all night long. Instead, you likely have anywhere from a few to 100 episodes of nighttime teeth clenching and grinding.

There are several negative consequences to sleep bruxism.

• Teeth damage that can be significant
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems
• Chronic pain in the face and jaw
• Chronic headaches

With a night guard for teeth clenching, you may be able to get significant relief from sleep teeth clenching.

Benefits of a Night Guard for Teeth Clenching

The night guard is a small device made from super-strong transparent plastic. Your dentist designs this device by taking impressions of your teeth and jaw. Night guards have a precise fit and are very thin, so they’re not uncomfortable. When you’re asleep, wearing a night guard can help protect your teeth from the strong vertical forces of clenching and grinding. This gives much-needed relief to the jaw joints, and it also protects your teeth from the effects of persistent teeth clenching.

There are several benefits of a custom-designed night guard.

• Night guards are much less expensive than costly dental work that need to be undertaken because of excessive teeth clenching and grinding
• Easy to wear and comfortable
• Patients can speak and breathe normally when the night guard is in
• The night guard is individualized to your specific bite force and fits snugly

Night Guard for Teeth Clenching in Hamilton, Ontario

Are you concerned about the teeth grinding and clenching you’re doing while you’re asleep? Dr. Karen Ho and the team at Dentistry on Parkdale in Hamilton, Ontario, can help. Give us a call at 905-547-4940 or request an appointment online today.

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Dr. Karen Ho is a trusted dentist serving patients of all ages in Hamilton, Ontario. Having studied at prestigious institutes such as McMaster University and University of Toronto and trained at Hartford Hospital (General Practice Residency), she opened her private practice in 2003.

Dr. Ho is committed to lifelong learning as she believes that she can serve her community better by constantly updating herself. She is affiliated with many professional organisations like the Academy of General Dentistry, Institute for Clinical Practice of Pediatric Dentistry, The Dawson Academy Study Club, Niagara Peninsula Dental Diagnostic Study Club, Hamilton Chapter of the Seattle Study Club (Founding Member), and Boston and Tufts Universities.