About 80% of Americans grind their teeth when they sleep. If you are one of these people, then you could be doing some serious damage to your teeth.
Then there are the people who grind their teeth, and they don’t know it. There are a few signs you can look for to figure out if you grind your teeth.
If you experience one of these five signs, then it may be time to get a mouth guard.
1. Chipped Teeth
If you chip a tooth from grinding your teeth at night, then you have a serious problem on your hands. First, you need to get the chip fixed by visiting a dentist. Then you need to address your grinding.
A mouthguard can protect the enamel and cushion your teeth so that you don’t damage your teeth further.
2. Chronic Grinding
For some people, grinding their teeth at night is a periodic thing. They may do it because they’re experiencing high stress at work. For other people, their grinding is constant.
If you grind your teeth most nights, then you fall into the second group of people. A mouthguard won’t stop you from grinding, but it will reduce the adverse effects of grinding your teeth every night.
Nightly grinding will eventually wear down your teeth. It will then be an expensive job to repair your many damaged teeth.
3. Headaches in the Morning
It’s a horrible way to start your day. You open your eyes to a raging headache. This daily experience could be from you grinding your teeth at night.
A mouthguard and relaxation techniques can help you manage your grinding and reduce your headaches. By taking time to relax before you go to bed at night, you can reduce the likelihood of grinding your teeth.
You could try exercising. Working up a sweat daily can expel excess energy, so you sleep deeper and more sound.
4. You Take Antidepressants
Certain antidepressants have a side effect of nighttime teeth grinding. One study found that the main ingredient in some antidepressants causes grinding. Paxil is one such medication that has this effect.
Your other option is to talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage or switching to a different medication.
5. You Have Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
TMJD is a condition where your jaw and muscles are inflamed. This can happen from clenching and grinding your teeth at night. The pressure of your clenched jaw puts excess pressure on the muscles and tissue that surround your jaw.
A mouthguard should help alleviate the harsh clenching and grinding, which will, in turn, reduce the pain you experience from TMJD.
It’s Time to Get a Mouth Guard
If you’ve experienced any of these five symptoms, then you need to make an appointment to get a mouth guard. Once it’s made, you need to consistently wear it every night to protect your teeth and jaw from further damage and injury.
Make an appointment today and let us help you protect your teeth with a mouthguard.