If you wake up with facial pain or sore, painful jaw muscles, you may be grinding your teeth while you are sleeping. A New York Night Guard can prevent the pain you experience as well as prevent the serious damage you may be doing to your teeth and your jaw muscles. Grinding your teeth can be a serious problem that can cause a variety of serious problems, such as TMJ, ear aches, headaches and dental problems. If you think you may need a night guard, it is important to see your dentist to determine which type of night guard is best suited for your needs.
One of the most serious problems that a New York Night Guard is beneficial for is temporomandibular joint condition (TMJ). TMJ is characterized by popping and clicking sounds in the jaw, jaw pain, locked jaw, headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders and/or ringing in the ears. Bruxism is the technical term for abnormal clenching, gritting, grinding and/or gnashing of the teeth. It typically occurs during the night while you are sleeping, so you are unaware that you are doing, which means you cannot stop it.
A night-guard works by preventing the teeth from grinding together, which reduces the pressure on jaw muscles. The night-guard also protects your teeth and prevents possible damage, such as cracking and breaking of the teeth. It is important to see a dentist to get fitted for a night-guard to insure that you are wearing the correct size and type for your individual needs. There are three different types of night-guards available; a hard night-guard, soft night guards or dual laminate night-guards. A hard night-guard is made with a hard acrylic material and is considered to be the most durable type. Hard night-guards are typically worn by people who have a complicated bite problem or have problems with extreme clenching. Soft night-guards are made with a more flexible type of material and are typically worn by someone who may only have a slight clenching problem or only occasional grinds their teeth. A dual laminate night guard is made with materials that provide the benefits of both a soft and hard night-guard. The materials used are soft and comfortable, but they are durable, so it cushions the teeth, but will not break down from extreme grinding.
