Don’t you clench or grind the teeth of yours while you’re asleep? That has been a trick question.
Would you know what you do while you’re asleep?
Everyone clenches their teeth at night and lots of grind them also. The technical terminology for tooth grinding is “bruxism” then when it happens during sleep, it’s viewed as “nocturnal bruxism.” Hundreds of scientific studies have shown that nocturnal bruxism typically leads to symptoms including worn and fractured tooth, head, neck, and face pain, along with problems.
Frequently dental splints, generally called night guards are prescribed by dentists for bruxers. These nightguards are made in a variety of different designs and are fabricated using a number of different materials. They are usually prescribed by a dentist and put together by a dental laboratory. But, over-the-counter (OTC) devices can be bought at drug stores but need to be stayed away from at all price. They’re not custom fit for the user and can possibly increase TMJ pain. OTC night guards tend to be not durable and very difficult to put on as a result of their excessive bulk.
Maybe the most often used night guard is a tough acrylic “full arch” appliance that covers all of the tooth on either the lower or upper arch. While these units do defend the teeth from wear, many customers locate them to be cumbersome and really will not use them. Another problem with the traditional complete mid-foot night guard would be that it is able to in fact cause users to clench and brux with greater intensity, as shown in Doctors Arun Chandu and Tuija Suvinen’s study released in Volume 31 of the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. The majority of clenching forces are produced from the posterior tooth (molars) as well as cuspids (canine teeth). Full arch night guards provide the user with a large flat surface to clench into, thereby possibly increasing the intensity and the likelihood of painful side effects.
Yet another form of bruxism guard growing in popularity will be the NTI-tss Plus. It was developed by Dr. James Boyd, DDS and is FDA sanctioned for the prevention of migraines, tension-type headaches, along with symptomatic TMJ pain caused by clenching as well as bruxing. It is a little, hard acrylic appliance with a patented pattern that separates the canine as well as back tooth while sleeping. It simply covers 4 front teeth and could be worn on the lower or upper arch, increasing patient comfort. The NTI tss Plus however protects the teeth from sport but as it stops canine and molar contact, it greatly suppresses the user’s clenching severeness by about seventy %, allowing joints and muscles to unwind. In an investigation reviewed for FDA approval, 82 % of NTI-tss users experienced a 77 % reduction in migraine episodes.
The causes of nighttime clenching as well as bruxing have been debated for decades without clear resolution. With that being said, all would agree that a defensive, healing dentistry appliance is the greatest treatment option. Check with your dentist regarding your bruxing as well as clenching to identify the appliance best teeth whitening kit for sensitive gums fit for your circumstances.
