If you habitually grind or clench your teeth during sleep, a night guard can significantly improve your oral health. At Gaston and Murrell Family Dentistry in Nashville, Tennessee, Nathan Murrell, DMD, makes custom-built night guards for patients looking to safeguard their teeth from the effects of grinding. Start protecting your smile today. Schedule your night guard appointment with Gaston and Murrell Family Dentistry by calling the office or using the online booking tool.
A night guard is a custom-molded, removable plastic mouthpiece that fits comfortably over your upper or lower teeth. Gaston and Murrell Family Dentistry provides night guards for their patients who habitually grind or clench their teeth while they sleep.
While the night guard doesn’t stop you from actually grinding or clenching, it does provide significant protection for your teeth. Much of the damage caused by grinding is due to the rubbing of your teeth’s surfaces against one another.
When you’re wearing your night guard, you effectively have a flexible, plastic barrier between your teeth, which cushions the force of any grinding or clenching.
Your night guard can also help to prevent or reduce the effects of TMJ problems by helping your jaw muscles to relax.
Teeth grinding is a condition in which you habitually clench your jaw or grind your teeth. The exact cause of teeth grinding is unclear, but many researchers think it develops due to several factors. Some common culprits for teeth grinding include:
Teeth grinding has also been found to occur in families, so there might be a genetic factor involved.
If you grind your teeth, you might notice:
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a consultation with Gaston and Murrell Family Dentistry. Your dentist can inspect your smile for signs of teeth grinding, such as worn-down surfaces, scalloped edges on your tongue, or damage on the insides of your cheeks.
If left untreated, teeth grinding can lead to many oral health complications, including:
Don’t wait to treat your teeth grinding. Schedule an appointment by phone or online with Gaston and Murrell Family Dentistry today and find the relief you need.
