When you visit your family dentistry office near Leander, TX for teeth cleaning or a dental check-up,your dentist or dental hygienist may notice excess wear on your teeth. Worn down tooth enamel, along with chipped teeth, jaw pain, and tooth sensitivity, can all point to a tooth grinding problem. Tooth grinding refers to when a patient frequently clenches their jaw and grinds their teeth against each other. Because it’s common for this to occur at night while a person sleeps, dentists often recommend dental night guards.
Night guards work by creating a barrier between your upper and lower teeth.
These dental devices are typically designed to fit inside your mouth and have upper and lower sections that fit around your teeth. You can find ready-to-wear dental night guards at many sporting and drug stores, but your dentist will probably advise the use of a custom-made device. When a night guard is made specifically for your teeth, it can be more comfortable to wear and may also function more effectively. If you think that you may be grinding your teeth, speak with your dentist about getting a custom-made dental night guard.