Fort Lauderdale dentist offers nighttime mouth guards for teeth clenching and grinding
Keeping the smile healthy and beautiful requires more than just routine dental visits and proper home health care. Many conditions can impact the smile in various ways. For example, some Fort Lauderdale, FL area patients who deal with teeth clenching and grinding may be diagnosed with a condition called bruxism. Bruxism is one of several conditions that can impact the jaw, as well as one’s oral health. Mouthguards are a standard treatment for patients with bruxism. Dr. Yolanda Cintron and her team encourage patients to speak to her about this condition and the effective treatment options available with night guards.
What is bruxism?
Dr. Yolanda Cintron describes bruxism as a condition of the jaw that causes clenching and grinding of the teeth. This typically occurs at night as patients sleep and is something that can be almost impossible to control. Bruxism affects approximately 10-15% of adults but can vary in severity.
What causes bruxism?
It is not easy to pinpoint the exact cause of bruxism. However, studies have shown that some of the factors below may contribute to the likelihood that someone will be diagnosed with this condition:
- High levels of stress and/or anxiety
- Certain prescription medications such as SSRIs
- Drug and alcohol use
- Chewing tobacco use
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Poor jaw alignment
What are the symptoms of bruxism?
Patients with bruxism will notice sure signs and symptoms, including:
- Sore jaw or face
- Flattened or worn teeth
- Broken/chipped teeth or restoration
- Tooth sensitivity
- Toothaches
- Headaches/migraines
- Earaches
- Sleeping partner’s disrupted sleep
As patients often find out, conditions such as bruxism can impact the health of the smile in various ways. Clenching and grinding cause undue pressure on the teeth. When patients are clenching and grinding, they can break or wear down dental restorations or natural teeth. In fact, this is what commonly leads to a diagnosis of bruxism with a dentist. Bruxism can be bad for the entire mouth, so with proper treatment, patients can often protect their smiles while reducing problems associated with this condition.
What can be done about bruxism?
Most patients experience clenching and grinding while they sleep. To counteract the condition, it may be important for patients to consider the benefits of using a nighttime mouthguard. A mouthguard is a special splint that can be fitted specially for the patient and adjusted as needed. When patients wear the mouth guard at night when they sleep (or during the day if they have daytime bruxism), they can reduce the pressure caused by the condition and protect their teeth and restorations from damage. In turn, it may reduce symptoms such as headaches and migraines as the pressure is reduced with mouth guard use. Our professionals will ensure that the mouth guard is an effective treatment for patients to use long-term to counteract this condition.
Call our team to speak to a professional about bruxism treatments
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Yolanda Cintron of The International Center for Dental Excellence of Fort Lauderdale, FL to discuss your needs for a nighttime mouth guard for bruxism. Call (954) 945-7355 and discuss your needs with our team, conveniently located at 2021 East Commercial Boulevard, Ste. 208.
About Dr. Yolanda Cintron
As a biological cosmetic dentist, Dr. Yolanda Cintron for over 30 years has been creating the most beautiful smiles using the highest quality materials that will last a lifetime. Her expertise and professionalism have earned her the trust of patients, not only from Fort Lauderdale and surrounding areas in Florida but also from many other countries. Patients coming from around the world for her to create their new smiles and change their lives forever.
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