Dental Night Guards in Arlington, VA

Causes of Bruxism

Grinding or clenching your teeth at night is known as bruxism and can cause significant damage to your teeth and the joints in your jaw. The causes of bruxism are unclear but may include:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Medications
• Sleep disorders
• Consuming too much caffeine or tobacco

Thankfully, there are dental night guards to help those who suffer from bruxism while you sleep. Our state-of-the-art dental care at Lighthouse Dental can help you get a better night’s sleep, as well as protect the health and integrity of your teeth.

Signs of Teeth Grinding and Clenching Teeth

The American Dental Association estimates that 15% of adults suffer from teeth grinding. Signs that you may grind or clench your teeth while you sleep include:

• Sensitive teeth
• Locked jaw
• Temple headaches
• Earache-like pain
• Fatigue
• Receding gums

A more obvious sign of teeth grinding or clenching is wear and tear on your teeth. If you grind or clench your teeth regularly, your teeth will start to wear down, which can lead to other dental issues.

Long-Term Effects of Teeth Grinding and
Clenching Teeth

If bruxism is left untreated, it can lead to serious oral health issues. Chipped or broken teeth can occur due to teeth becoming weak and brittle from repeated grinding and clenching. It can also lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction, also known as TMJ. TMJ occurs when the jaw and surrounding muscles’ movement becomes compromised, causing jaw pain and difficulty chewing.

If left unchecked, bruxism can even wear your teeth down to nubs, requiring cosmetic dentistry to repair.

Dental Night Guards at Lighthouse Dental

Fortunately, you can treat bruxism with dental night guards. There are several types of night guards, including:

• Soft night guards
• Dual laminate night guards
• Hard night guards

Which dental guard is right for you depends on the severity of your teeth grinding or clenching. What they all have in common is their general use. Dental night guards protect your teeth by placing a barrier between your top and bottom teeth to protect them and cushion the muscles in your jaw.

While dental night guards will not stop you from grinding or clenching, they will protect your teeth’s enamel and bones and muscles in your jaw. Lighthouse Dental can help you determine the best type of night guard to use to help relieve your bruxism.

Dental night guards purchased through Lighthouse Dental offer a more accurate fit than those purchased over the counter. We make impressions of your teeth so that each night guard is custom fit for maximum comfort and protection.