If your jaw or neck feels sore after you wake up, you may be one of the millions of people suffering from sleep bruxism—when a person involuntarily clenches their jaw and grinds their teeth during their sleep, including the following:
- Severe headaches
- Facial pain
- Disruption during sleep
- Tooth pain or sensitivity
- Damaged enamel, fractured and chipped teeth
- Tight jaw muscles or lockjaw
This is where mouth guards come in! Mouth guards are reasonably thin plastic devices that rest on your teeth to create a barrier between the upper and lower jaw. This barrier protects your teeth, cheek and tongue from damage caused by teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
It’s important to wash your mouth guards and wear them daily when you go to sleep. Mouth guards are efficient and best for those with bruxism. It’s best to ask your dentist if you require a mouth guard to protect your teeth while you sleep.
At The Smile Team, our dentist, Dr. Abid Hidayat, is pleased to help you with all of your dental care needs. Dr. Hidayat may recommend wearing a mouth guard in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario to protect your smile. We welcome you to give us a call if you have any concerns or questions about your oral health. We can be reached at 416-546-5599!