is a serious condition that wears down tooth enamel and increases your risk for jaw pain, gum irritation, headaches, tooth fractures, and more.
If you grind your teeth at night, you’ll want to ask one of our Grand Rapids dentists about wearing a night guard. We are able to create a custom-fit night guard that protects your teeth from bruxism, yet is comfortable enough to wear while you sleep.
Symptoms of Nighttime Teeth Grinding
Many of our patients are unaware they are grinding their teeth at night until it’s brought up by one of our dentists. If you aren’t sure whether you grind your teeth, our will be able to check for signs of bruxism in your smile, such as worn tooth enamel. Other symptoms of nighttime teeth grinding include jaw pain, headaches, and chipped or otherwise damaged teeth.
How Night Guards Work
A night guard forms a protective layer between your upper and lower teeth to prevent teeth grinding. Night guards are similar to mouth guards worn by athletes.
Custom-fit night guards protect your teeth from bruxism!
The major difference is that an athletic mouth guard is used to protect teeth from blunt force trauma to the face, while a night guard is used to protect teeth from teeth grinding.
During your first appointment with us, our dentists will take impressions of your teeth to make your custom night guard. When you come back for your second appointment, your night guard will be ready to pick up. Before you leave, our dentists might make minor adjustments so the fit is comfortable and you can breathe easily.
Learn More
Our Grand Rapids, MI, night guard dentists work hard to help patients achieve good oral health. If you are interested in learning how to prevent nighttime teeth grinding with a custom night guard, call GR Family Dental today at (616) 455-3020, or contact us online.