Nightguards for Bruxism
Understanding bruxism
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, often happens during sleep, so many patients do not realize they do it. Left alone, it can wear down teeth, aggravate jaw joints, and create other dental problems.
How a nightguard helps
A custom-made nightguard is worn to bed and gently positions the jaw to reduce tooth-to-tooth contact. That simple step can help protect your smile while you sleep.
How Common Is It?
Research puts sleep bruxism at roughly 5-8% of the general adult population, and it becomes less common with age. Because it happens during sleep, many people learn about it only when a dentist spots the wear patterns on their teeth or a partner hears the grinding. Awake bruxism - daytime clenching, often stress-related - is even more widespread, affecting an estimated 15-20% of adults. Grinding forces are several times greater than normal chewing forces, which is why the damage shows up as flattened cusps, tiny fractures, and enlarged jaw muscles - and why an appliance that absorbs those forces is often the simplest protection available.
