Night Guards
Portland, OR
 Do you wake up morning after morning with pain in your jaw? Do you find it difficult, or painful, to eat certain types of food, speak, or move your mouth at all? If so, you may be living with a condition known as bruxism. The longer bruxism goes untreated, the worse the symptoms become. At Sylvan Heights Dental, we can help to alleviate the symptoms and restore your quality of life, with a night guard.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition in which you grind and clench your teeth. It can affect you at any time. However, it tends to be most problematic at night. During the daytime, you can notice when you are grinding and clenching your teeth and stop it. However, while you sleep, you are completely unaware that it is happening. Your teeth grind and clench together without interruption. The longer bruxism goes untreated, the more severe the symptoms become. You may find it difficult to eat, speak, or even move your mouth at all.
What Causes Bruxism?
Bruxism can be caused by many different issues. Causes include:
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Stress. This is one of the leading causes of bruxism. When you are stressed, your muscles become tense. This includes the muscles in your face. When your facial muscles become tense, your teeth clench together. This puts a significant amount of pressure on your teeth, your jaws, and your temporomandibular joints.
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Crooked teeth.
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Certain types of drugs, both prescription and illegal.
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Stimulants such as caffeine.
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Excessive alcohol consumption. |
What are the Symptoms of Bruxism?
Bruxism has many symptoms. These symptoms often start off mild, barely noticeable. However, the longer bruxism goes on without addressing it, the worse they become. Common symptoms include:
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Pain and swelling in your jaw.
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Pain in your temporomandibular joints, called your TMJ.
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You may find that your face hurts.
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Tired facial muscles.
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Excessive tooth wear.
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Tooth damage.
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Loose teeth.
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Chronic headaches and earaches. |
How Can a Night Guard Help?
A night guard is a common treatment used to treat bruxism. It is an oral appliance that is worn over your teeth while you sleep. Resembling a sports mouth guard in appearance, a night guard works to absorb the impact of grinding and clenching. This helps to alleviate the stress on your jaw, your facial muscles, your teeth, and your TMJ. The night guard can also function to keep your jaw in proper alignment, preventing your lower jaw from sliding back while you sleep.
You may have seen night guards for sale at your local pharmacy. However, we recommend investing in one that is custom created. While over the counter night guards cost less, they are not designed specifically for your mouth. Because of this, they may not fit properly. An ill-fitting night guard can cause many issues. For one, it can fall out of your mouth while you are sleeping, preventing you from getting the relief you need. Ill-fitting night guards can also interfere with your breathing, which can cause several other issues.
We can custom create a night guard just for you. This is done using impressions of your mouth. A custom night guard fits your mouth perfectly. Our night guards are also made from high-quality materials. With a custom night guard, you will be able to get the relief you need and possibly avoid the need for restorative dentistry.
If the symptoms of bruxism are interfering with your daily life, a night guard can help. Call Sylvan Heights Dental today at (503) 297-1471 to schedule your consultation and find out if this treatment is right for you.
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