Similar to mouthguards for sports, occlusal guards protect your teeth, so that you don’t need to endure a painful visit to the family dentist to fix them. Specifically, they prevent you from grinding your teeth while you sleep. Although it sounds innocuous enough, nighttime grinding has several serious consequences, so it’s worth looking into occlusal guards to avoid dealing with them.

What Is Nighttime Grinding?

If you wake up in the morning with a persistent headache or pain in your jaw and joints, it’s possible that you were grinding your teeth in your sleep. That means you’re pressing and scraping your teeth against each other. If you do this often enough, the pressure exerted onto the teeth may cause them to crack, chip, or get worn down, making them vulnerable to infections, cavities, and gum disease. Additionally, teeth grinding can hurt your jaw, cause jaw bone loss, and even change the shape of your face. In any case, you should visit a family dentist for emergency tooth fillings or extractions.

Anyone who is severely stressed or anxious or taking antidepressants is vulnerable to grinding their teeth while they sleep. Those afflicted with Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease—both nerve disorders that make it difficult to control your actions—are highly prone to nighttime grinding. Random muscle spasms or a misaligned jaw due to missing teeth could also be to blame.

How Do Occlusal Guards Help?

Slim and fashioned from smooth plastic, occlusal mouth guards are meant to be inserted into the mouth at night so that you can’t grind your teeth. If you try, your tooth will safely rub against the soft plastic instead. Your teeth and jaw will both be spared pain and damage. To optimize the occlusal guard’s performance and help you be as comfortable as possible when using it, a family dentist can customize it for your mouth specifically.

Kicking unconscious habits can be a struggle, but with an occlusal guard provided by the family dentist at Blome Family Dentistry in Lincoln, NE, you can overcome it. Dr. Greg Blome emphasizes not only resolving existing issues, but providing preventive treatments to keep your mouth healthy. He’ll make an occlusal guard to fit you perfectly and offer all of the guidance you need to make sure it helps. Schedule an appointment today by calling (402) 483-7000 or visiting him online.