Nightguards for Bruxism – Melbourne, FL
Protect Your Teeth From Grinding and Clenching
Do you wake up with a dull headache or soreness in your jaw, neck, or face? These are common signs of bruxism, or teeth grinding. Over time, your condition can begin having detrimental impacts on your oral health and lead to damaged, sensitive, and worn-down teeth. Your dentist in Melbourne, Dr. Beverly Rose, is dedicated to providing her patients with preventive treatments that will save them from developing costly or painful issues down the road. That’s why at Exceptional Dentistry, we offer a variety of treatments including custom-crafted nightguards for bruxism.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a more technical word for grinding and clenching your teeth out of habit, or unconsciously. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a survey they took found that eight percent of adults grind their teeth while sleeping, and over a third of children. When you gnash and clench your teeth regularly, it will wear down your enamel and leave your pearly whites vulnerable to damage and developing cavities.
What Causes Bruxism?
Bruxism can be caused by a variety of factors. For children, it typically occurs when their teeth begin growing in and stops once their permanent ones have appeared. For adults, grinding and clenching is a common sign of stress and anxiety. Some other causes of Bruxism include:
- An abnormal or misaligned bite that causes your teeth to not meet correctly when you close your jaw.
- Facial muscle spasms that occur during sleep.
- Having missing or crooked teeth.
- Side-effects of certain medications.
- Neurological diseases such as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s.
Some other factors that may have a bearing on your bruxism include alcohol consumption, smoking, sleep apnea, and fatigue. When you contact us to schedule a visit, we’ll inspect your facial structure and oral health to look for signs of any of these issues. Dr. Rose is professionally trained to tell the difference between wear patterns caused by bruxism, and ones caused by other habits like aggressive brushing and drinking too many acidic beverages.
How Can a Custom-Made Nightguard Help Protect Your Teeth?
To treat the underlying causes of bruxism, we’ll have you in for an examination. You may need additional treatments, for example, TMJ therapy with Dr. Rose. In the meantime, we can reduce the impact that your bruxism is having on your teeth by custom-fitting you for a nightguard. This is a comfortably formed appliance that fits over your teeth to prevent damage.
What are the Benefits of Using a Nightguard?
For nighttime bruxism, a custom crafted oral appliance designed by Dr. Rose is one of the best ways to protect your teeth. They are designed with opposing grooves to help secure your mouth in a natural resting bite position to reduce damage. Instead of leaving your condition unchecked, eventually resulting in eroded enamel, tooth sensitivity, and damage, we can protect your mouth so you can enjoy your natural teeth for years to come.
Don’t hesitate to contact our team of caring and experienced professionals who have completed advanced training in neuromuscular dentistry. We would be more than happy to answer questions you may have and get your oral health back on track!