The medical term for clenching or grinding one’s teeth while sleeping is “sleep bruxism.” The effects of this illness on your dental health are devastating. Neglecting can lead to broken or fractured teeth, jaw problems, severe migraines, and excruciating facial discomfort.
Fortunately, mouth guard for sleeping have been influential in the past. They are the most effective method of preventing dental wear and damage from nighttime teeth grinding, often known as bruxism.
Here are some surefire signs that you need a mouthguard because of nighttime clenching.
- You are a chronic teeth grinder.
A mouthguard is essential if you know you have a problem with teeth grinding. Does day-to-day stress cause you to clench your jaw or grind your teeth? Or, has a loved one ever overheard you grinding your teeth in your sleep? Even though monitoring your mouth activity while you sleep is challenging, these are two surefire signs that you are unwittingly harming your teeth.
- You wake up with morning face and jaw pain.
Your facial, neck, and jaw muscles take extra strain when you grind your teeth. All night, every night, these muscles are working out twice as hard. Soreness and possibly jaw pain upon waking up are the results. When this is bad enough, you could experience sudden jaw swelling. Pain and stiffness during mealtimes are also possible side effects.
- You get a headache upon waking.
Another symptom of nighttime clenching is waking up with a severe headache. One of the most prevalent signs of a lesser condition is a headache. Teeth rubbing together causes jaw pressure, which in turn causes headaches.
- You have broken teeth.
A broken tooth is a red flag that something is wrong. Contact your dentist right away if you discover any chipping. Clenching your teeth at night can cause severe wear and fractures to your teeth over time. Teeth, even when in good health, have their limits. Therefore, watch for signs of tooth damage, such as chips, flat top molars, shorter front teeth, cracks, or a rapid increase in tooth sensitivity.
- You can not sleep because your jaw hurts.
Clenching your teeth in your sleep might cause severe disruptions. Even if you are sound asleep, the discomfort of teeth grinding, facial stiffness, and jaw ache will wake you up. A good night’s sleep is critical to one’s health, so addressing any issues preventing you from getting enough shut-eye right away is essential. Nighttime clenching, which can interrupt sleep, has far-reaching consequences beyond the mouth.
- TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joint is the TMJ. The jaw and the muscles around it become inflamed when you clench and grind your teeth nightly. As a result, you can have a problem with your jaw’s temporomandibular joints.
