How a Dental Night Guard Can Benefit You

The Daily Grind

We are not talking coffee here but instead the grinding of your teeth.  Human’s have a biological way to relieve stress.  It’s grinding your teeth – sometimes it's clenching while at other times it's grinding or maybe even both.  Clenching is when you bring your teeth together real hard.  Grinding is when you move your lower jaw back and forth.  Clenching generally does not show wear on your teeth but the muscles around your mouth are sore.  Grinding will show wear patterns on your teeth and may also exhibit sore mouth muscles.

The problem with these maladies is that they put pressure on your jaw joint named the temporomandibular joint or TMJ which is the only three way joint in your body.   All other joints move in one plane.   While your jaw opens and closes, moves forward and backwards and goes side to side.  This is one joint you do not want to have problems with.

So what to do if you’re clenching or grinding?  First you want to determine what is causing you stress.  Then maybe you can relieve the stress through exercise or meditation.  If the problem exists maybe a custom night guard is the solution for you.

Being a resident of the Big Apple and living in New York City you are under stress.  That's big city living.  Most clenching and grinding occurs at night while you are sleeping.  Most individuals know that they’re grinding.  If I ask a patient if you are grinder, if so, they go oh yes.   For some it’s a mystery but upon waking if you open your mouth and the muscles feel sore, like after carrying a heavy bag you’re grinding.

Another way to see if you’re grinding is are your teeth together when you are just sitting at your desk working? Sometimes it is unconscious until you actually notice by looking for it. 

For some standing in a shower under warm water and massaging your jaw muscles and TMJ joint works, for others taking Tylenol or Motrin gives relief.  However, if the problem persists you might be in need of a night guard.  This is a soft piece of acrylic that you wear at night.  You will still grind and clench but this will prevent damage to your teeth and relieve the stress on your TMJ joint.

Unfortunately, this is a band aid treatment to minimize the results of grinding.  Ultimately the best course is to determine what is causing the stress and rectify the situation.

Here at the dental practice of Dr. Glenn Reit on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville we see many patients that are experiencing this situation.  We are here for you and can implement treatments to help alleviate your situation.  Give us a call at 212 517 9000.  We are located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84thand 85th Streets directly across from McDonalds in a five story townhouse on the second floor.  Your teeth will thank you.

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Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

The Daily Grind

An observation I have noticed in my patients is the fracturing of teeth and restorations.

I believe this is occurring due to stress we have all been under for the past year from the pandemic.

One way our bodies are programed to relieve stress is by clenching and grinding our teeth during sleep.   It is not known why this occurs but stress reduction occurs by grinding and clenching.  Exercise, meditation and a healthy lifestyle can help to reduce your inner stress.  Stress usually is caused by work, relationships, money meaning life.

You will know if you are continually clenching or grinding your teeth.  If so, we have a solution. Upon waking in the morning do your jaws feel stiff? Do the muscles on the side of your head feel sore? Do you experience stiffness when moving your jaw around? If so then you are clenching or grinding in your sleep.  If you find yourself grinding or clenching during the day like while you are at your desk this tells us you are not getting enough relief at night and your stress has spilled over into your conscious life.

Over the years we have made hundreds of night guards for our patients.  A nightguard is a soft piece of material which is custom made to fit the entire upper or lower arch of your teeth.  Danger Will Robinson do not buy a do it yourself nightguard at the pharmacy.  Your jaw joint is a three-way joint.  The only three way joint in your body.  You can move your jaw forward, back and side to side in addition to opening and closing.

All other joints in your body such as your elbow or knee just move in one plane.  Try it and you will see what I am talking about.  It is better to go with NO nightguard than a do it yourself one.  The nightguard we make has to fit your teeth perfectly and be correctly vertically positioned to work with your jaw joints on either side of your head.

Stress usually occurs in waves meaning you will be stressed for several days and then the condition will improve.  Most of our patients wear their nightguard’s intermittently when they are experiencing pain.  If you wake up in the morning and your feel stiffness then for the next couple of nights you should wear the nightguard we have made for you.  

Upon waking the next morning, you will feel better.  The nightguard in addition to relieving the stress in your jaws will help to prevent the excessive wear grinding does to your teeth.  This is important because as you grind your teeth down the vertical dimension which is the height between your upper and lower jaws decreases.  This in turn changes the angulation of your jaw joints which can lead to discomfort and problems.  Think of it as your car’s tires being out of alignment or if your feet are not straight your heels of your shoes wearing unevenly.

Another problem is clenching and grinding in addition to wearing your teeth down can also destroy dental restorations previously placed in your teeth.  Meaning these restorations will need to be redone and/or enlarged costing you time and money.  If you feel you are experiencing any of these problems call us today to schedule your appointment.  Don’t let your stress effect your teeth!

Looking for a Night Guard in the Upper East Side?

Contact us today (212) 517-9000 or info@reitdds.com to schedule your dental appointment.