Did you know that up to 31% of people grind their teeth at night, including children? Nighttime teeth grinding and clenching can be extremely harmful to oral health, and you may not even be aware that it’s affecting you or your child.
Fortunately, if bruxism (the clinical name for chronic teeth grinding and clenching), is a problem for your or your child, at Chichetti & Patel Dental Wellness, we have a way to keep it from having serious repercussions on your teeth and jaw — a Nightguard.
If you said YES to any of these questions, then it is highly likely you are unknowingly grinding and clenching your teeth.
A Nightguard is a special device that fits snugly over your teeth to ease the pressure and lessen the impact of constant clenching and grinding. In most cases, you’ll wear it at night to keep your upper and lower teeth from touching when your jaw clenches and moves around while you sleep. It won’t cure your bruxism, but it will help you keep your teeth and jaw healthier in the long term.
CONSUMER WARNING Some stores and pharmacies offer one-size-fits-all nightguards over the counter, but these devices are not always as effective as they claim to be. While store-bought nightguards are cheap to purchase, they offer little assurance that they will protect your teeth sufficiently. In fact, an over-the-counter nightguard could end up causing even more harm to your oral health if it doesn’t fit in your mouth properly.
When you come to us for a fully-customized nightguard, you are guaranteed to get a device that fits securely in your mouth and works the way you need it to to keep your teeth and jaw safe from the effects of bruxism.
You don’t have to live with the pain, discomfort, and frequent dental health issues that nighttime teeth grinding causes.
Chronic teeth clenching and grinding can be a serious problem for your teeth, your jaw, your facial muscles, and your overall health. Your dentist can check for signs of teeth grinding when you come in for regular hygiene examinations. However, if you notice any concerning symptoms between visits and suspect that bruxism is the cause, please see us right away for a complete examination and consultation.
Call Chichetti & Patel Dental Wellness at (704) 548-1818 to make an appointment with one of our dentists and learn more about nightguards in Charlotte, North Carolina.
