Good sleep is essential to good health, and poor sleep or lack of sleep is associated with many chronic conditions, including obesity and diabetes. Some oral health issues, such as bruxism, teeth grinding, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, can lead to sleep problems and a cascade of other issues.
At Century City Smiles & Orthodontics, our providers suggest a medical device called a night guard when they suspect bruxism or TMJ disorder, which causes poor sleep. If you wake up with jaw pain or the telltale damage to your teeth that results from grinding, a night guard could relieve your overall health.
Occlusal splints 101
The medical name for a night guard is an occlusal splint. They are also sometimes called orthotic appliances or oral appliances.
Dentists and orthodontists are trained to recognize when a night guard can benefit a patient, choose the best type, and take impressions of your mouth so a lab can manufacture a custom-fit night guard.
Bruxism and night guards
Bruxism is grinding your teeth. It happens while you sleep, so you don’t know what’s happening. Your jaw is powerful, and the force generated when you grind your teeth together is intense.
When you grind your teeth together in your sleep, you can cause outright damage, such as cracking. Your teeth may also wear away much more quickly than they would otherwise. Bruxism can also cause damage to your TMJ
Another common issue is waking up with pain in your jaw or neck or a headache. Imagine keeping any muscle tense for several hours—you’d likely be sore the next day. The same is true of your jaw.
A night guard prevents your teeth from fully meeting each other, which means you can’t bite down as hard, and your teeth don’t rub against each other. This prevents all of the problems that result from grinding your teeth together.
TMJ and night guards
You have two temporomandibular joints, one on each side of your jaw. These joints connect your jawbone to your skull. The TMJ is a sliding hinge joint.
TMJ disorders can happen for many reasons, including grinding your teeth. It can also result from a condition such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or an injury to your jaw.
A night guard can help relieve the pain associated with a TMJ disorder, and if your problem is due to bruxism, it may address the underlying problem. Some symptoms of a TMJ disorder include:
- Pain or tenderness in your jaw
- Pain in or around your ear
- Problems chewing
- Locking of your jaw so that it’s difficult to open or close your mouth
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Pain in your eye
- Toothache
- A clicking sound when you open your mouth
Schedule an appointment at Century City Smiles and Orthodontics if you have any symptoms described here. If a night guard is appropriate, we can help you get one that fits perfectly so that you can return to restful sleep.