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Bruxism is a habit that is characterized by the grinding of teeth and is typically accompanied by the clenching of the jaw. Clenching refers to holding your jaw tightly closed, causing additional stress on your teeth. Your jaw should only be closed when eating, or chewing. An individual who bruxes may experience such symptoms as jaw pain and headaches. It is common for patients to complain about experiencing headaches in the morning, after a long night of grinding or clenching their teeth. Most of us do not know that we are grinding our teeth. Many times it is your dentist or hygienist that will first see the wear patterns on your teeth and inform you about your grinding. It is also common that your sleep partner tells you that you grind your teeth after being kept awake by your grinding.
Bruxism can generate tremendous force on the teeth causing broken teeth, loose fillings and loss of tooth enamel. Bruxing also causes teeth to become more sensitive to hot and cold foods and liquids. It is recommended to wear a bruxism/night guard to protect your teeth from further wear and jaw against additional stress that bruxing causes.
Impressions are taken of your upper and lower teeth, and a custom guard can be made for you. These guards can be made to fit the upper or lower arch, depending on your preference, and the recommendation of your dentist.
It is important that you bring your bruxism/night guard with you to your dental appointments so that the dental team can assess it for wear. They will advise you when it is time to consider making a new guard to protect your teeth and jaw. Your dental team will also be certain that the guard is fitting well after you have had any dental treatment provided for you. It is important that the guard fit properly, and that you are applying equal pressure over the guard so that there is not extra pressure in any one specific area.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE AND CARE
- The thermoflex bruxism guard must be heated with warm tap water for approximately 1 minute prior to insertion.
- While the guard is warming, you should be sure to brush and floss your teeth and oral tissue to ensure that your mouth and teeth are clean before inserting the appliance.
- Always ensure to push the guard into the correct position using your fingers and thumbs, never bite it into place.
- When removing the appliance, always reach to the back of your mouth and pull down on it. Pull down/up on it, depending if the guard was made to fit the top or bottom teeth.
- The guard should always be brushed clean using a toothbrush, solely used for this purpose, water and a drop or two of liquid hand soap. Brush and rinse the appliance after each wear period, and be sure to store it in the case that was provided for you.
- Always be sure to keep this appliance away from pets. Dogs have a tendency to chew these appliances, and can destroy them in the process.