Many people are afflicted with teeth grinding — also known as bruxism. While some individuals may do this throughout the day, it is a larger problem at night during sleep.
Gahanna dentist Dr. Dawn Baker DDS knows that teeth grinding can damage enamel, wear down teeth, cause jaw pain or irritate your gums. The noise from teeth grinding can also disturb your spouse's sleep.
Fortunately, there are solutions that can lessen the damages of tooth grinding, such as bite splints or night guards — restorative devices used to support, protect or immobilize oral structures that have been loosened, replanted, fractured or traumatized.
If you grind your teeth you should consider a night guard. Similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, this device provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards are custom fitted for comfort and to allow for proper breathing. Your night guard dentist in Gahanna will take an impression of your teeth and have the night guard created by a dental lab. Night guards are very durable and can be used for up to 10 years.
There are also some things that you can do to try to stop teeth grinding. You can train your jaw to be free and easy rather than clenched. Refrain from chewing gum or on other objects like pens. You should also avoid alcoholic drinks and drinks with caffeine, as these can increase the likelihood you will grind your teeth. If you suspect you might be grinding your teeth at night set up an appointment with us today.
Our Gahanna dentists offer several different types of bite splint therapy for specific conditions. Through proper evaluation and fitting, your Gahanna dentist can help alleviate misalignment of your bite and subsequently correct these issues.
To learn more about Gahanna nightguard dentist Dawn Baker DDS or to request an appointment, please contact us here or call our office directly at (614) 475-7580.