If you suffer from bruxism–also known as teeth grinding–you may be waking up with a sore jaw or achy jaw muscles. When this happens, it is important to know that there is a fix: dental mouth guards. Also known as splints, oral appliances or night guards, dental mouth guards can protect your teeth and joints, and help ease your pain. Let’s take a closer look at two types of mouth guards for a better understanding of how oral appliances work for teeth grinding.
Over the counter mouth guards
This is an easy to find option for potentially improving your jaw pain and teeth grinding. These mouthguards are available in pharmacies and sporting goods stores. They are often sold in small, medium and large sizes in order to fit different mouth sizes.
However, many are also called “Boil-and-bite” mouthguards. That is because after warming them in hot water, you bite into the softened material to mold the mouthguard to the size and shape of your mouth. This helps to provide a better fit than a one-size-fits-most approach of the small, medium and large varieties.
Custom-made mouthguards
When it comes to custom-made mouth guards or oral appliances, this is where you will get the best treatment and help for your teeth grinding habit. Dentists create customized dental guards to fit the shape of your teeth and jaw.
While these might cost a little more than over-the-counter mouthguards, they fit better and are even more comfortable to wear. To add to that, some dental insurances also help pay for this option.
Contact Dr. Mayoor Patel at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Georgia to learn more about oral appliances or mouthguards to improve your teeth grinding habit.
