Our dental team’s first line of defense for bruxism treatment is a night guard because it’s one of the best ways to combat habitual teeth grinding. A dental night guard is an oral appliance that provides a protective layer between the upper and lower teeth. This extra cushion prevents you from doing unconscious self-harm to your jaws and teeth as you sleep.

At Vitalize Dental, we can set you up with a mouth guard for grinding teeth in as little as two appointments. At the first appointment, we’ll take impressions of your smile and send these impressions to our high-tech dental lab. Here, they will craft a dental night guard designed just for you.

After a week or two, we will call you back in for a final fitting. We want to ensure that your night guard fits flawlessly and performs perfectly. Furthermore, we suggest wearing your perfect-fit mouth guard for grinding teeth while you sleep and during stressful situations (like driving through traffic or taking a test) to prevent harm from grinding teeth.

Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress, and it’s the body’s coping mechanism for protecting against injury or pain. Sudden onset stress causes muscles to tense up at once but releases as soon as the stressor passes. On the other hand, chronic stress leaves the muscles in a constant state of being on guard.

This tension can travel to the jaw muscles. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding are common physiological responses from stressed individuals. While bruxism is a natural bodily response, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for your teeth. Prolonged teeth grinding and jaw clenching can lead to eroded teeth and sore facial muscles, so schedule a consultation for bruxism treatment as soon as you notice it.