Why Custom Mouthguards are a Great Investment
Bruxism is a condition in which you grind or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth together during the day, or clench or grind them at night (sleep bruxism). Mild bruxism does not always need treatment, but for some people bruxism can be frequent enough to cause jaw pain and disorders, headaches, and can damage your teeth. If you have sleep bruxism you are not awake or aware that you are grinding you teeth… Why? Well, because you’re asleep!! There are several signs and symptoms to watch for, such as:
- Teeth grinding or jaw clenching, which may be loud enough to awaken your sleep partner
- Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
- Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw or face pain or soreness
- Tired or tight jaw muscles
- Pain that feels like an earache, though it’s actually not a problem with your ear
- Dull headache originating in the temples
Bruxism can truly rule you life if you suffer from it. Some days can be overwhelming. If you are grinding over a period of time it can cause costly complications. This is why many people choose to invest in a custom mouth guard for teeth grinding.
If you or someone close to you has noticed any of these signs or symptoms it is probably time to talk to your dentist about getting a custom mouthguard. What are custom mouthguards? A custom mouthguard is a device that is custom created to fit to your mouth and protect your teeth and gums. There are several different kinds some used for protection in sports, to help with TMD, and some made to help those with bruxism called a bruxism guard.
There are many different kinds out there, but we are going to focus on custom fit mouthguards known as a Bite-So-Soft. The Bite-So Soft is a great investment for those with bruxism, unlike other custom mouthguards it not only keeps your teeth from making contact to grind, but can reverse that habit of grinding itself, so it’s a mouth guard for teeth grinding. The Bite-So-Soft can be made two ways. The first and most typical way is as anterior splint. It is custom created to fit onto your front six teeth and has a small ledge know as a lingual ramp that keeps your teeth from being able to make contact. These types of custom mouthguards are also good for patients that have had porcelain restorations. The other type of Bite-So-Soft is a Full Arch Splint. It is similar to the Anterior Arch Splint, but it fits over your all of your upper teeth. This is good for patients with TMD.
The cost of a Bite-So-Soft can vary, but if you are experiencing these types of symptoms the investment you make is worth it, because the complications of bruxism can cause can be even more costly. The laboratory that creates the Bite-So-Soft has found that it has helped in reducing and preventing the following:
- Reduces Clenching and Jaw Clenching, Grinding, Headaches, Jaw Pain, Sleeplessness, & Depression
- Prevents Cracking or Chipping of Teeth & Fillings
- Protects Natural Teeth from Wearing
- Extremely Comfortable to Wear
For many people it is also a great investment because this is a non-invasive and drug-free treatment. It is a very simple appointment for the patient. You simply go to your dentist and see if you are a candidate for a custom mouthguard. If your dentist prescribes a custom mouthguard, you then have a few impressions taken, and you are out the door.
It typically takes the lab just a few weeks to get the mouthguard back to the office, and when it returns you come in for an appointment to have the mouthguard delivered and to check for any adjustments that may need made.
For many patients it takes just a few days to get used to wearing the Bite-So-Soft. It is a tightly fitted product in order to prevent it from easily slipping off the teeth. The Bite-So-Soft is typically only worn at night so it is important that it fits snuggly to your teeth while you are sleeping. Once the adjustment period has passed many people say that the Bite-So-Soft has helped immensely.
If you are someone who feels like you are suffering from bruxism, you should not hesitate to talk with your dentist about a custom mouthguard. Having this product could improve your day to day living. If you live each day with any of the symptoms we understand how hard it can be and would love to help in any way possible.