Protect Your Teeth from Grinding with a Custom Occlusal Guard

Teeth grinding can be annoying, but it’s also bad for your oral health. The problem? Many people tend to grind their teeth during sleep, so they’re not even aware they’re doing it, delaying treatment that can protect their oral health and reduce painful symptoms, too.

At Morris Dental Associates in Abilene, Texas, Amy Morris, DDS, and our team have the necessary skills and expertise to spot even the subtlest signs of grinding damage, providing treatment to protect your teeth and relieve uncomfortable symptoms. 

Here’s what we want you to know about bruxism treatment — and how a custom-fitted occlusal guard can help preserve your healthy smile.

Bruxism basics

Teeth grinding is a lot more common than many people realize, affecting nearly 10% of the population. That’s partly because so many things can lead to bruxism, including factors like:

• Chronic stress and anxiety
• Nighttime breathing issues, like apnea
• Caffeine use
• Certain medications 

Oral health issues, like missing teeth or crooked teeth, may lead to bruxism, too, as your jaws move back and forth during sleep to find their natural balance. 

In fact, some types of grinding are associated with an underlying oral health issue called temporomandibular disorder (TMD). TMD happens when jaw joints become inflamed, leading to clicking noises in your jaw, along with grinding and clenching. The reverse is also true: Grinding and clenching habits can eventually lead to TMD, creating a cycle that feeds on itself.

Signs to look for

Not surprisingly, chronic grinding causes significant damage to your tooth enamel, making teeth more vulnerable to decay. But that’s not the only sign associated with bruxism. Many people also have symptoms like:

• Headaches upon waking
• Jaw aches and pains
• Facial tenderness or earaches
• Tooth sensitivity or pain

Since grinding can interfere with normal, relaxed, comfortable sleep, you might wind up with daytime drowsiness, too.

Over time, continual excessive pressure on your teeth can lead to cracks and fissures that in turn increase your risk of bacterial infections, cavities, and tooth loss. Constant pressure weakens the entire tooth structure, causing tooth roots to loosen and increasing your risk of shifting, bite misalignment, and tooth loss.

It’s not always easy to connect your symptoms to a grinding habit, especially if you only grind and clench your teeth during sleep. Fortunately, Dr. Morris is skilled at identifying subtle bruxism signs, like worn enamel and tiny fissures, so she can correct them before you have major problems.

Occlusal guards to the rescue

Because bruxism damage is associated with the extra strain on your teeth and jaws, many people benefit from occlusal guards that help protect teeth and absorb that added pressure. Occlusal refers to the way your teeth meet, and these custom-made devices are designed to cushion teeth and significantly decrease your symptoms as well as prevent further damage.

An occlusal guard is made to fit snugly around the contours of your teeth, using special materials that protect your teeth while still being extremely comfortable, so they won’t interrupt your sleep. In fact, by reducing or eliminating grinding symptoms, many people find their sleep improves, too.

Getting an occlusal guard typically takes two visits. During the first visit, Dr. Morris makes an impression or mold of your teeth. This mold serves as the model for your custom guard, so it can be made specifically for the contours of your teeth. Once the guard is crafted, you’ll come back for a second visit so we can make any final adjustments.

Custom occlusal guards are far superior to store-bought night guards that use cheaper materials and provide an inferior, inexact fit. The precision associated with a custom occlusal guard from our practice prevents slippage and irritation, ensuring you can wear it comfortably every night — and wake up feeling more refreshed and pain-free every morning.

Don’t ignore the signs of bruxism

Teeth grinding can cause serious damage to your smile and your oral health, but a custom occlusal guard offers a simple, effective way to stop that damage before it starts. 

If you’ve noticed jaw tension, headaches, or signs of wear on your teeth, don’t wait for your symptoms to get worse. Request an appointment online or over the phone today with the team at Morris Dental Associates, serving patients in and around Abilene, Sweetwater, Brownwood, and Eastland, Texas.