Bruxism is commonly known as teeth grinding. If you experience teeth clenching and grinding, then you need not be afraid. An estimated 8% of the population are victims of sleep bruxism. Another 20% suffer from awake bruxism. This condition may not be easy to treat as it is caused by stress. Its symptoms are tooth damage, insomnia, and facial pain. You may find yourself looking for ways of treating these symptoms instead of a full cure.
One of the ways suggested by most dentists for reducing the symptoms of teeth grinding is the use of dental guards. Dental guards reduce these symptoms in the following ways.
The main benefit of the dental guards is the protection that it gives your tooth enamel. Depending on the severity of the bruxism, you may choose a soft rubber teeth guard which is preferable if you clench rather than grind. The other choice can be the hybrid laminate guards that have a soft interior and a hard exterior which is excellent for those who experience moderate grinding. There is also the hard acrylic guard which is the best for heavy grinding. All these guards provide a layer between the teeth which prevents grinding together as well as eroding the tooth enamel. You can change your teeth guard when it is ground down.
The tooth is made of a layer of hard protective enamel that covers a layer of dentin that protects the cluster of blood vessels and nerves. Both the dentine and enamel can get eroded to expose the vessels and pulps of nerves. This may cause intense pain which can be solved by wearing dental guards.
Cushioning Jaw Muscles
Waking up in the morning with pain around your jaw and cheeks is one of the signs of grinding or clenching teeth. The jaw muscles are strong and can exert a force of up to 1300N, so they will hurt if they grind for an entire night. Dual laminate or soft rubber dental guards offer a layer of cushioning between the lower and the upper teeth. This helps to protect your jaw muscles from the tension.
Reducing Grinding Frequency
Besides preventing bruxism symptoms, dental guards can also help by reducing the frequency of the teeth clenching and grinding. These guards lessen the intensity and frequency grinding sessions. Combined with their relaxation techniques, wearing these guards provides the best chance to reduce the symptoms and decrease intensity and frequency of grinding episodes. They can also help to improve the alignment of your teeth
Bruxism has no easy cure, but you can protect yourself from its symptoms. Wearing these dental guards provides a tough layer between the teeth that prevents the destruction of the tooth enamel and cushioning the jaws to ease the facial muscle pain. You can even reduce daytime grinding by wearing the thin flexible dental guards.
One of your greatest concerns as a parent is finding the right medical and dental professionals to care for your loved ones. There are so many different providers for you to choose from that it may seem as if you will never have enough time to find what you need. Don’t let this task deter you from finding a family dentist that everyone in your home is completely comfortable with. To have an idea of what a family dentist should provide, check out Logan dentist. Don’t let this task prevent you from being through in your assessment of other providers.
If you want to improve your chances of finding the best practice, you need to start off with a list of highly recommended professionals.
Selecting a family dentist
Get recommendations online
If you are not sure where to get your recommendations from, you can either go online to the American Dental Association’s website and look for providers or get some recommendations from your previous dental care provider for a good family dentist. It doesn’t matter how good their ratings and reviews are; you need to determine for yourself whether or not any particular practice is going to be a good fit for you and your family.
Don’t base your choice on your experience alone
Contact several of the professionals that are on your list and make an appointment for each of you, your spouse and kids. It is essential that you don’t base your decision on your experience alone since you aren’t the only one who needs dental care.
These appointments don’t have to be for treatment; they are so that everyone can meet with the staff and gauge how comfortable they feel in the facility. It also gives you a chance to see how everyone will be treated if they were actual patients of that particular practice.
Choose a dentist who is appealing and soothing
A good family dentist works in an office that is appealing and soothing to all. This means that no matter what the age is of his patients, they are not anxious or having a breakdown while they are waiting to be seen. The staff should be kind and courteous to everyone.
If there is a reason why you won’t be seen at your appointment time or if they are running a bit behind, you should be informed about what is going on. You don’t want to end up in a facility where your time and patronage is not valued.
Select among many family dentists
Don’t expect for the very first family dentist you see to be the one that everyone agrees on. Expect to see a handful before you all find one that works for everyone. Once you have seen several, you will have enough information to compare them against each other. It is best that you start this process several months before everyone in your home is due for their next dental appointment.
The sooner you get this done, the better you will feel when it is time to let everyone know they have an upcoming dental appointment for a checkup and cleaning. You can rest easy knowing that you and your loved ones are in the care of a great family dentist.