A large proportion of the population clench or grind their teeth (bruxism) without being aware of it.
Over time, this behavior may lead to the facial muscle fatigue, headaches, temporomandibular joint clicking noise when opening/closing the mouth, reduced ability to open mouth, gradual damage to teeth.
Patients complain that the symptoms appear in the morning, while those close to the patient note that teeth grinding can be heard during the night.
Although the cause of bruxism is unknown, anxiety has been observed to be a significant factor.
In very painful situations, muscle relaxants, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications are initially administered.
The use of a bite guard during sleep helps the patient to get rid of the painful symptoms and also protects the teeth from damage, including cracking, chipping and even fractures. Once the symptoms are alleviated, the guard can be used periodically, especially during times of stress, always under your dentist’s supervision.