Teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) is a serious condition that wears down tooth enamel and increases your risk for jaw pain, headaches, tooth fractures, and more.
If you grind your teeth at night, you’ll want to ask our Holland dentist about wearing a night guard. We’ll create a custom night guard that protects your teeth from grinding and is comfortable enough to wear while you sleep.
Symptoms of Nighttime Teeth Grinding
Many of our patients are unaware they are grinding their teeth at night until it’s brought up by our dentist. If you are unsure whether you grind your teeth or not, our dentist can check for in your smile, such as worn tooth enamel. Other symptoms of nighttime teeth grinding include jaw pain, headaches, and chipped or otherwise damaged teeth.
How Night Guards Work
Night guards form a protective layer between your upper and lower teeth to. They are similar to mouth guards worn by athletes but have one major difference. An athletic mouth guard protects teeth from blunt force trauma to the face, while a night guard protects teeth from teeth grinding.
During your first appointment with us, our family dentist will take impressions of your teeth to make your night guard. When you come back for your second appointment, your teeth grinding guard will be ready to pick up. Our dentist might make minor adjustments before you take it home to ensure the fit is comfortable and you can easily breathe.
Protect Your Teeth
Our dentist in Holland, MI works hard to help patients achieve good oral health. If you want to learn more on how to prevent nighttime teeth grinding with a custom night guard, call Macatawa Smiles at (616) 396-7524, or contact us online.
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