Illustration of a man grinding his teeth while he sleeps

Should I Wear a Nightguard?

August 17, 2022 12:41 pm | Published by

Do you wake up with a sore, tense jaw in the morning? Are you experiencing increased tooth sensitivity? You might be suffering from bruxism, or teeth grinding.

What Is Bruxism?

A variety of factors can lead to bruxism (teeth grinding), such as stress and anxiety, sleep apnea, and teeth and bite misalignment. It can cause temporomandibular joint dysfunction and jaw pain, pain that radiates to the neck and shoulders, sensitive teeth, headaches, and tooth damage.

If you are grinding your teeth at night, New Columbia Dentistry has a possible solution for you: a custom nightguard!

Reasons to Wear a Nightguard for Teeth Grinding

  1. Prevent dental damage
  2. Grinding your teeth can damage your tooth enamel, making way for an irregular bite, alignment issues, and decay. A nightguard is designed to slip snugly over your teeth to act as a barrier between your top and bottom arches. This helps prevent tooth damage and TMJ issues if you grind your teeth and clench your jaw as you sleep.

  3. Easy to maintain
  4. All you have to do is rinse your nightguard in lukewarm water, brush it clean every morning, and keep it in a safe place. Then it’s ready to wear again when you go to sleep.

  5. Improve sleep quality
  6. A good night’s sleep is a foundation to a productive, happy day. If you suffer from sleep apnea or wake up with a pounding headache or sore jaw, a nightguard may help alleviate your symptoms and promote more restful sleep.

  7. Save Money
  8. Wearing a nightguard can help prevent certain issues from occurring, such as broken teeth or degenerative joint disease, that can be costly to address later.

  9. Improved quality of life
  10. Apart from getting better sleep, nightguards can cut down on the discomfort and pain you might experience due to teeth grinding. This preventive treatment can give you time to figure out the root cause of your bruxism and reduces your risk of developing chronic and debilitating issues associated with teeth grinding and poor quality sleep.

Affordable nightguards in Washington, DC

As part of our comprehensive dental services at New Columbia Dentistry, we can create a custom nightguard just for your smile. Our treatment plans are tailored to your specific needs to help you enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile. Plus, we offer a variety of payment options to keep our services affordable. Please contact us today to schedule an appointment!

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Teeth grinding image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0



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