Protecting Teeth While You Sleep – Nightguard Knowledge

You know you need a mouthguard when you play a sport like hockey or football, but when you are sleeping? Really? What in the world is there to protect your teeth from while you are snug in your bed, cushioned everywhere by pillows and blankets?

You need to protect your teeth from yourself!

Many patients at our dental offices in Highland Park and Chicago Heights come to us because their teeth are cracked, chipped, or worn down and they have no idea why. And when we tell them, they have a difficult time understanding how they could have no memory of doing it. They are suffering from bruxism, an unconscious clenching or grinding of the teeth, and their smiles are showing the telltale signs.

Could You Have Bruxism?

The primary symptoms of bruxism are:

• Worn, chipped, broken teeth
• Flattened tooth surfaces
• Exposure of tooth layers and loss of enamel
• Tooth sensitivity
• Jaw pain
• Headache and facial pain
• Earache from jaw muscle tension and contraction
• A scalloped tongue or irregular tongue edges
• Damaged mouth tissue

If you have any of these symptoms, please call our Highland Park or Chicago Heights dental office right away.

What Causes Tooth Grinding and Clenching?

There are a number of causes of bruxism including:

• Sleep disorders
• Stress, tension, or anxiety
• Misaligned jaw or poor bite alignment
• Acid reflux
• As a result of some diseases such as Parkinson’s disease
• As a side effect of some medications

If bruxism isn’t treated, it can lead to breaking teeth, TMJ disease, and migraines. It can also ruin much of the restorative or cosmetic dentistry you have invested in.

Let Us Help

At our dental offices in Highland Park and Chicago Heights, we can fit you with a custom-made nightguard appliance that will reduce the damage to your teeth from grinding or clenching during sleep, reduce any grinding-related symptoms, and protect your dental investments!

We help patients in Highland Park, Deerfield, Highwood, Chicago Heights, Crete, and Park Forest smile more!