Living With a Teeth Guard

For those who don't know, Bruxism is a teeth grinding disorder, and in fact, it is considered to be one of the most damaging dental disorders. To make matters worse, in many cases the condition goes undetected, and even if it is detected, it's usually nothing more than a mere inconvenience at first. The reason for this is because most sufferers (Bruxers) usually only suffer from the condition while they're sleeping, and most people only realize they have the condition when they frequently begin waking up with an aching jaw, ear ache, and in severe cases, even damaged teeth.

Unfortunately, if the condition is left unchecked it can lead to several other dental disorders such as TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction). This of course is a direct result of continuous grinding and/or clenching of the teeth, which eventually ends up causing the temporomandibular joints to become inflamed. This condition will usually result in a person experiencing difficulty and discomfort when they open their mouth, in conjunction with severe headaches and jaw popping.

So, is there anything you can do if you believe you are currently suffering from Bruxism? Of course, it only stands to reason that if you have this disorder you should immediately make an appointment with a dentist, who'll in turn be able to determine whether or not you do indeed have Bruxism. If you do, your dentist will inform you as to what options you have, ranging from the fitting of a teeth guard, through to surgery.

Generally speaking, teeth guards are manufactured from silicon and are molded around your teeth. In fact, they are very similar to the gum shields which boxers use. Of course, for obvious reasons, a teeth guard is only worn at night when you go to sleep, and even though it cannot prevent you from grinding your teeth, it certainly does prevent you from damaging them. Unfortunately however, teeth guards are known to be rather expensive, so you can expect to pay $400 and up for a standard guard.

Furthermore, irrespective of how much you're prepared to pay for a good teeth guard, it can not cure the condition. Admittedly, it will protect your teeth from being damaged but it cannot help you break the habit of grinding your teeth. In other words, wearing a teeth guard will not prevent you from waking up with a sore jaw and the accompanying headaches.

So, is there anything else you can do in conjunction with using a teeth guard, so that you can eventually get rid of the guard completely? Interestingly enough, having browsed through several online Bruxism forums, many unusual home remedies seem to be popular.

For example, why not chew on a cauliflower floret just before you go to bed? If you don't like the taste of cauliflower then you can opt for a raw carrot or even a slice of apple instead. Those who advocate this remedy claim that it helps to calm your mouth, and as a result, it helps to prevent you from grinding your teeth.

Another remedy which you may come across involves having someone massage your back, shoulders, and neck. This remedy is based on the fact that stress can act as a catalyst and that it can often induce Bruxism. Some people also recommend that you do stress relieving exercise shortly before bed.

Of course, once you go to bed there are a number of things you can do in order to help. For example, you should try to sleep on your back because it is widely believed that you are more susceptible to Bruxism when you sleep on your stomach or on your sides. Some people who find it difficult to sleep on their back have reported that it helps if you're able to be a little creative with your pillows. You could for example have one pillow under your head with another one between your arms. By using pillows in this fashion you'll be able to ensure there's no strain on your neck, and of course, it can also help to prevent you from rolling over onto your stomach when you're asleep.

Lastly but not least, you should ideally trying to stay away from caffeine, sweet snacks, and alcohol. Contrary to what you may believe, studies have proven that even a few drinks can disturb your sleep, while at the same time encourage involuntary jaw movements. Considering that almost everyone is aware of the fact that caffeine keeps you awake, there's not much need to discuss why it should be avoided before bedtime. Foods and snacks which contains a lot of sugar on known to raise blood sugar levels but the level soon drops back to normal, and when it does, you'll feel drained but at the same time you'll be unable to sleep properly. Providing you're willing to follow some of the advice given in this article, you should be able to get some welcome relief while at the same time you'll be able to reduce your dependency on the teeth guard.