What is bruxism (grinding my teeth)?

Total mouth harmony means that the entire oral system (nerves, muscles, bones,and teeth) work together to provide comfortable oral function. When the jaw joints called TMJ (temporomandibular joints) are misaligned, nerves and muscles can become fatigued. They may react at night, which causes grinding teeth, a condition known as bruxism.

When your teeth don’t fit together properly and/or your TMJ joints – don’t function smoothly, pain and pressure results. You can experience:

  • Migraine headaches
  • Unexplained facial, neck, shoulder, or jaw pain
  • Tooth wear
  • Chronic earaches

What is a night guard?

A night guard (or bite splint) is a custom-fitted appliance that you wear over your teeth to protect them from night time grinding. During sleep we have no control over grinding or clenching, and unfortunately this can cause jaw pain, muscle soreness, cracked teeth, broken crowns and severe wear on your teeth. It also helps reduce stress placed on the jaw and allows the muscles to move easily.

night-guard-2
Night Guard1