Tooth grinding can cause a wide variety of problems, some of which can be painful or damaging to your teeth and jaw. Occasional grinding occurs for most people, and when it’s rare, it typically causes little damage. When repetitive grinding occurs, your teeth can certainly suffer the consequences. Some people grind their teeth in their sleep, causing confusion when they wake up with a sore jaw. At Beverly Restorative and Implant Dentistry Center, we have specialized treatments that are designed to help with these issues.

Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ

TMJ refers to your Temporomandibular Joint. Whether you are familiar with the area or not, it’s important to know its importance. This joint connects the lower jaw to the skull, and plays a major part in mobility and range of motion. Here are the most common causes of teeth grinding:

• Stress and anxiety: nervous habits can cause someone to clench or grind their teeth
• Abnormal bite or tooth placement: if your teeth aren’t lined up properly, grinding can occur
• Sleep disorders: many people clench and grind their teeth in their sleep

Clenching and grinding can cause excessive stress on the temporomandibular joint. Those who are unaware of the extent of stress while they sleep are often the individuals who experience most pain or damage. TMJ strain can lead to TMD-temporomandibular joint disorder. Symptoms include pain in the mouth, jaw, neck, and headaches. Those with TMD can experience fatigue during the day that ranges in severity-it can be hard to get a good night’s sleep when you are repeatedly clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth. Fortunately, BRAIDC has a treatment for TMJ disorder.

Night Guards and Mouth Guards

To treat or prevent painful TMJ disorder, BRAIDC can provide you with a custom-made mouthpiece. This night guard mouthpiece is specifically designed to fit your mouth securely and is 100% safe to sleep with. It is made from a high quality reinforced acrylic and is completely harmless to your mouth. This method is noninvasive; no surgical procedure is required. Clenching and grinding can cause your teeth to wear down, becoming flat and less functional. Nerve exposure, tooth fractures, and headaches, among other problems, are common as well. A BRAIDC night guard will comfortably provide you with protection from any further damage. While we sleep, the protective muscle reflex that prevents this problem is “asleep” as well. It’s disabled until we become awake and regain consciousness. A night guard will prevent your top and bottom teeth from coming into contact as well as shutting down your jaw muscle that causes them to grind or clench.

Sports guards can be custom made as well, specifically to protect the teeth of sports players. Any patient who has porcelain veneers or crowns and thinks that they may be grinding or clenching at night may want to schedule an appointment to be fit for a night guard. This can prevent any future restorations that may arise.

At Beverly Restorative and Implant Dentistry Center, a happy and healthy smile is our main goal. Besides the outward appearance of your teeth, their inner health is important as well. Along with our wide range of services available, we offer 24-hour emergency dental services and assure that you will receive top of the line general and cosmetic dentistry. From routine cleanings to restorative treatments, Dr. Lee and his team are here to help you.

To schedule an appointment with our Beverly dentist, please call us at 978-232-9003 or request a dental appointment online.