Whats the best therapy for not grinding my teeth at night?

You should see a dentist and have an occlusal nightguard made. I have seen some repsonses here saying to get those soft ones that you can buy in sporting goods stores. However, that is the problem, they are soft and eventually you will grind through them.


A proper guard made through a lab through your dentist will be made of a harder acrylic material. When it is fitted the bite will also be adjusted to be most comfortable and best for your mouth. Grinding can lead to other issues such as TMJ problems and that in itself can become a very painful situation.


I have a nightguard and although I have gotten better about my gridning/clenching at night, I only wear it now for a few nights a week. They take some getting used to, but are worth it to save your teeth.

Whats the best therapy for not grinding my teeth at night?
wear the smallest, thinnest and most comftable gumsheild......as in the gumsheild boxers wear
Reply:my dad actually has this problem and he just bought a mouth piece like one you would wear in football.
Reply:get a night guard, this will prevent damage
Reply:Go to your dentist and have them make you a bite gaurd that you wear at night!





It really works, and saves your teeth and jaw!





It's expensive, but worth it!





Get a good dentist, and get a consult.





you will want the HARD bite gaurd, you will knaw right thru the soft ones!





good luck
Reply:A nightguard for your mouth; but NOT the kind you get in stores. Go to a dentist for a referral to a specialist. The ones you get in stores you will either


a) grind through it


b) have it improperly fitted (won't stop grinding and can harm your jaw)


c) just wont use it





Trust me when I say go to the professionals and pay more...I wrecked my jaw by grinding my teeth. My husband tried to save us money by getting a cheap store one and he never uses it; it falls out of his mouth and he feels like he is choking. (even after trimming it like they said)
Reply:first, go to a dentist to make your very own mouth guard or you can go to a dental lab (for the cheap one). then, Hold a warm, damp cloth next to your face for 10 minutes before you go to bed to help calm your jaw muscles. reduce alcohol, caffeine, and anti-depressants consumption the best medicine is try to relax and reduce stress, specially before u sleep by meditating, taking a hot bath, or just streching. sleep tight:)
Reply:Grinding your teeth at night can be due to a lot of things. 1) stress. Have you every caught yourself clenching your teeth when you are in a stressful situation? I have! Studies have shown people to apply as much as 4-6 times the biting force when they are clenching or griding their teeth (called parafunctional habit) at night. 2) Clenching and grinding can also be due to imbalances in your teeth which cause problems when your teeth come together. What causes that ?!? If you have dental restorations that are not anatomically correct and do not fit into the teeth that oppose them in opposite jaw, you can have imbalances. If you have teeth that are positioned strangely (because of crowding or the anatomy of your jaw and teeth) you can have imbalances.





That is just to name a few. Because there are many factors that contribute to a clenching habit, there are many types of treatment. Some patients will try hypnosis, yoga or some other relaxation technique. Some patients find that using muscle relaxers help.





Most patients find that an occlusal guard (aka nightguard) works. Often these do not stop you from clenching or grinding, but they protect your teeth and muscles while you do.





The problem with a nightguard is that once you get one, you may be reluctant to wear it. That is up to you.





If you do want to get an occlusal guard keep in mind the following:





1) a store bought "do it yourself" appliance is not going to cut it. a) they are too bulky - they are uncomfortable so you will probably not use it. b) they are too soft - you will chew a hole in it in a few days. c) they are not customized to your bite in order to give you a "mutually protected, non interfering balanced occlusion" - as we nerdy dental types call it.





2) talk to your dentist about getting an occlusal guard. a) have the dentist explain to you what they are making. It is more than a piece of plastic to put between your teeth. If made incorrectly, it can make your clenching worse which could contribute to joint problems, teeth problems or tenderness in your jaw muscles or headache. Essentially they are designed so all teeth lightly touch when you bite together, but if you slide side to side or front and back, only the front teeth should touch. If your dentist is not interested in making you an "occlusally balanced" appliance get a second opinion.





The buggers are more complicated than what most people would expect - but if they are done right they can give you a lot of relief. You aren't paying for the material; you are paying to have it designed to fit your needs - hence the cost involved.





Also, once you start wearing it, you may begin to hear noises in your joints, or your bite may feel different. This is a normal process. When you clench, the muscles tighten and shorten. This changes the position of the jaw joint. As you remove the interferences (in your teeth) by putting a smooth piece of plastic between them, you change how much force you can apply when clenching. The muscles begin to relax and this changes the position of your jaw joint (hence the noise and change in bite). Don't be alarmed. Continue to visit your dentist as much as you need to have adjustments made to the appliance until you are comfortable.





Good luck!
Reply:It's called a nightguard. You can get one specially made by your Dentist or they now have them over the counter in the dental section of like Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart. It's very important to do this due to the problems that can be caused because of the grinding. Make sure your Dentist is aware of this problem. Good luck to you!



safety