Night Guards In Encino, CA
Pain is typically an indication that something is wrong. Waking up morning after morning with pain in your jaw can often be an indicator of an oral health issue known as bruxism. When this condition goes untreated, the pain only continues to get worse and can lead to serious complications. You may be faced with extreme pain that can interfere with your daily life. Encino Cosmetic Dentistry can help to treat bruxism with a night guard.
Does Your Jaw Hurt?Bruxism is a condition in which you clench and grind your teeth. This can happen at any time of the day, both while you are awake and while you are sleeping. When it happens during the day, you may be aware that it is happening, so you can take action to stop the motions. As you sleep. However, your teeth grind and clench freely, without interruption. This can lead to significant pain every morning. Not only does this condition cause severe discomfort, but you may also find it increasingly difficult to do basic tasks like eating and speak.
Symptoms of BruxismJaw pain, the especially first thing in the morning, is one of the most common symptoms of bruxism. There are other symptoms that may occur as well. These symptoms may often start minor, almost barely noticeable, but can worsen as time goes on. Other symptoms of bruxism include: | • |
Facial and jaw swelling.
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Pain in your face.
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Tired facial muscles.
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Temporomandibular joint pain.
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Excessive wear on the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
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Gum recession.
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Loose teeth.
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Chronic headaches or earaches. |
What Causes Bruxism?Bruxism can be caused by one of many different issues. One of the most common causes is stress. Under stress, your muscles, including those in your face and jaw, become tense. This tension forces your jaws to clench together, putting excessive pressure on the muscles, your teeth, your jaw, and your temporomandibular joints. Other causes of bruxism include: | • |
Caffeine, or other stimulants.
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Certain types of medications.
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Tobacco products.
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Excessive alcohol consumption.
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Poor tooth or jaw alignment. |
Treating Bruxism with a Night GuardA night guard is a common treatment for bruxism. This is an oral appliance that is made to be worn over your teeth while you sleep. The night guard helps to absorb the impact of grinding and clenching, alleviating the pressure on your muscles, your jaw, and your TMJ. The night guard can also aid in keeping your jaw in proper alignment while you sleep, preventing it from sliding back to cause grinding and clenching.
While you can get a night guard from a pharmacy, we can create a custom fit night guard for you in our office. Night guards that you buy over the counter may cost less initially, but they may not fit properly. This can lead to the need to purchase more to find one that works for you. Additionally, ill-fitting night guards can cause more issues than they solve. If they fall out while you sleep, they cannot provide you with relief. They may also interfere with breathing, which can be dangerous.
Our custom night guards are made from impressions of your mouth. This ensures that your night guard fits perfectly in your mouth. We also use the highest quality materials. You can rest easy knowing that your custom night guard will fit perfectly and will provide you with the best results, helping to alleviate your bruxism symptoms and restoring your quality of life.
A night guard can be an effective tool for alleviating the pain caused by bruxism, giving you back normal functions of your mouth and your quality of life. For more information about night guards, and to find out if this oral appliance is right for you, call Encino Cosmetic Dentistry today at (818) 783-0408. |
