If you regularly clench or grind your teeth, you could benefit from a mouthguard. Clenching or grinding the teeth often wears down tooth surfaces and can lead to various dental concerns, including increased vulnerability to developing tooth decay. This is where Dr. Mitchell Pasenkoff, a restorative dentist from Norfolk, MA can help. Dr. Pasenkoff can have a custom mouthguard created just for you.
Protection From Bruxism
Habitual grinding of the teeth is actually a condition known as bruxism. There can be different reasons why people begin grinding their teeth, but a common trigger is stress or anxiety. Individuals who begin clenching or grinding the teeth when stressed or anxious might not even realize they are doing it. Others grind their teeth while sleeping and are not aware they are doing it either.
Bruxism can cause headaches, jaw discomfort, and tooth pain. It can also lead to lead to several dental problems as a result of the protective enamel surface of the teeth being worn down. As the enamel is worn away by grinding, cavity-causing bacteria can more easily penetrate deep into the teeth. When enamel is worn down, teeth also become more vulnerable to staining. Wearing a custom mouthguard protects tooth surfaces from being worn down by repeated grinding of the teeth.
Custom Mouthguards
Several types of mouthguards are available, including over-the-counter and boil and bite varieties. Over-the-counter usually comes in a few general sizes, such as small, medium, or large but it can still be challenging to find the right fit. Boil and bite mouthguards are somewhat pliable and can be molded to the teeth for a better fit than standard over-the-counter mouthguards. However, neither of these types offers a custom fit so there can be problems with the mouthguard sliding around in the mouth.
To ensure a proper fit and to experience the most protection against the effects of chronic teeth grinding, custom mouthguards are best. Custom mouthguards are individually created for each patient using a mold of the patient’s teeth. Dr. Mitchell can help you obtain a custom mouthguard that will provide the best protection for your teeth.
You could benefit from wearing a custom mouthguard to protect against teeth grinding. To have your own custom mouthguard created just for you, schedule an appointment with our dentist Dr. Mitchell of Norfolk, MA at (508) 528-5351.