Do you wake up with a sore jaw or dull headache that was not there when you went to bed? And you may be grinding your teeth and not even know it. This disorder is known as bruxism, and it is a disorder that affects millions of individuals and leads to severe harm to their teeth, jaw, and quality of life in general. The good news? There is a simple remedy known as a night guard that can help protect your smile during sleep.

Understanding Bruxism and Why It Matters

Bruxism, or teeth grinding or jaw clenching, is a medical definition of a condition that occurs unconsciously during sleep. You are putting enormous stress on your teeth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) when you grind your teeth, up to 250 pounds per square inch. This force will wear away enamel, damage dental work, strain jaw muscles, and may even impact the bite alignment.

Most individuals are not aware of their bruxism until the indicators are observed by a dentist during a routine check-up, or bruxing is brought to light by a sleeping partner who hears the loud grinding noise. This is the reason why it is important to be aware of warning signs. A bruxism night guard provides a protective layer between the upper and lower teeth, thereby absorbing the impact of grinding and preventing damage during sleep.

At Englewood Oral Surgery, Dr. David Kessler and his team specialize in diagnosing and treating bruxism with custom-fitted night guards designed for maximum comfort and protection. Do I need a night guard? It is possible that you are feeling any of the following warning signs, and it is time to ask yourself the question.

The 7 Warning Signs You Need a Night Guard

1. Chronic Morning Headaches

Waking up with a headache is not what you should do. In case you have always had a dull, painful feeling in your temples or forehead in the early morning, it may be the result of teeth grinding. When you tighten your mouth during the night, the muscles of your face, head, and neck overwork and result in tension headaches, which welcome you in the morning.

These headaches are not similar to normal tension headaches due to the fact that they are directly associated with the overuse of muscles when one sleeps. This is because when your jaw muscles contract constantly, these ripples through your head, causing pain. When the over-the-counter painkillers have temporary effects, and the headaches continue recurring, then it is one of the most obvious signs that you grind your teeth.

2. Jaw Pain or Stiffness

Is your jaw tight, sore, or “locked” when you first wake up? Are you challenged about opening your mouth wide enough to have breakfast, or do you yawn comfortably? Stiffness and pain in the jaw in the morning a characteristic symptoms of teeth grinding at night. Just as any other muscles in the body, your jaw muscles get tired and sore when they are constantly working the whole night.

Other humans refer to the feeling as having their jaw wired, or they have to warm their jaw before their jaw can perform normally. It is not just wear and tear, but your body is telling you that something is not right. A night guard for teeth grinding can also provide your jaw muscles with the rest they so badly require.

3. Worn, Flattened, or Chipped Teeth

Have a glance at your teeth in the mirror, especially your canines (the pointed teeth near the front). Are they beginning to appear flatter than sharp? Do you have an impression that the biting surfaces of your back teeth seem flat or worn out? These are the indicators of chronic grinding.

Your teeth are so powerful, yet you have not built them to grind night after night. In the course of time, the outer layer of your teeth, known as enamel, becomes worn down, leaving the underlying dentin, which is a lot softer. You may also notice tiny chips or cracks on your teeth, especially on the edges. These are not merely cosmetic issues; they are structural damage that may result in even greater dental issues in the future.

4. Tooth Sensitivity

Do you suddenly have a sensitivity to hot coffee, ice cream, or other sweet treats? In cases when the protective layer of the enamel wears out as a result of grinding, the layer gives way, and the dentin hidden beneath it has small tubules, and those empty tubules lead directly to the nerve of your tooth. This is what makes or causes that painful, sensitive feeling when your teeth collide with temperature extremes or sugary food.

This kind of sensitivity is not confined to cavity-related sensitivity, since in most cases, many of your teeth are involved, and especially the ones that suffer in the process of your grinding habit. Unless your dentist has already eliminated cavities and gum recession, then the cause of teeth grinding is probably it. Wearing a night guard will help you avoid further loss of enamel and provide your teeth with some time to regenerate.

5. Clicking or Popping in the Jaw (TMJ)

Do you hear or feel clicking, popping, or grinding when you chew, yawn, or open your mouth wide? It can be an indication of TMJ strain initiated by chronic teeth grinding. The temporomandibular joint happens to be one of the most complicated joints in your body, and it is not designed to withstand all the extra force that bruxism imposes.

It is not only your teeth that you put pressure on when you grind your teeth, but also putting pressure on the TMJ and the disc that cushions the joint. This may make the disc come out of place over time to produce those clicking or popping sounds. These sounds are apparently harmless, but they are early signs that show that your TMJ is straining and may lead to a more severe disorder in case of not treated.

6. Earaches or Neck/Shoulder Tension

This may sound weird, but acute ear pain without any infection or hearing loss may actually be due to grinding teeth. TMJ is very near your ear canal, and in case of grinding, it becomes inflamed and thus can cause referred pain that resembles an earache.

On the same note, when you strain your jaw muscles, the pain might trickle down to your neck and shoulders, triggering a chain reaction of pain across the upper body. You may find that your neck is stiff, your shoulders are always tight, or you get knots in the muscles on the sides of your neck.

7. Sleep Disruption (or a Partner's Complaint)

Do you still find yourself feeling sleepy even after having slept a whole night? Did your partner complain of hearing any grinding or gnashing sounds on your side of the bed? Bruxism may also have a tremendous impact on the quality of your sleep, as you will not be able to get to the deeper, more restorative sleep.

Although you may not recollect waking up in the middle of the night, the constant movements and tension in the muscles may disrupt your sleeping patterns, and you may find yourself tired throughout the day. The hearing of a gritty sound may be the first thing that your sleep colleague may hear, thus being loud enough to wake up other sleepers too. When you feel unreasonably tired, or your partner has been complaining about these sounds, it is time to assess whether a bruxism night guard would not only help you to sleep better, but also to have a better relationship.

What Happens If You Ignore These Signs?

The disregard of the warning signs of teeth grinding is not only an issue of discomfort acceptance but also a long-lasting, serious outcome that is more complicated and costly to treat.

➥ Severe Tooth Damage

Your teeth will keep on grinding away, which will result in fractures, deep cracks, and massive destruction that can only be resolved through root canals, crowns, or even removing the teeth. The expenditure of money to fix grossly damaged teeth is way beyond that of a protective night guard. More to the point, after extracting a tooth, you will have to think about the ways to replace it, such as dental implants, to preserve your bite and your face.

➥ TMJ Disorders

A certain amount of clicking or slight discomfort may develop to be a full-fledged TMJ disorder with chronic pain, restricted movement of the jaw, and inability to eat. In the worst-case scenario, TMJ disorders might come to a large-scale treatment involving the use of physical therapy, medications, injections, or surgery. TMJ is a complicated joint, and once it is damaged, it may not necessarily be easy to get it functioning back to its full capacity.

➥ Chronic Pain Cycle

Bruxism may lead to a vicious cycle of chronic pain, which will impact your everyday life. The tension in your jaw, head, neck, and shoulders can cause chronic headaches, migraine, and musculoskeletal pains that disrupt your work, your social life, and your quality of life in general. Painkillers can be effective in alleviating the symptoms, but they do not treat the cause.

➥ Sleep Disruption

Sleep deprivation not only makes you feel sleepy but also has an impact on your immune system, cognitive ability, mood, and health. Persistent sleep disturbance has been associated with a plethora of health risks, such as a heightened susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, weight gain, and mental disorders. A night guard can help you to sleep better and, consequently, stay healthy.

The Englewood Oral Surgery Difference

Once you are ready to deal with your teeth grinding, it is in the selection of the right provider that it counts. At Englewood Oral Surgery, you'll benefit from Dr. David Kessler's extensive expertise as a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with over 20 years of experience. His advanced studies and practice in medicine and dentistry give him a distinct perspective in interpreting complicated cases that concern the jaw, TMJ, and mouth structures.

The difference between Englewood Oral Surgery and the other businesses is the dedication to utilizing the latest view of digital technology. The night guard is designed specifically to fit a specific patient rather than the uncomfortable, goopy impression molds used in the practice, which involves the use of digital impressions to make a precise, custom-fitted night guard for teeth grinding to help a patient. It translates to increased comfort, fit, and protection for your teeth and jaw.

Don't Wait for a Broken Tooth

The grinding of teeth is a warning sign of your body telling you that something needs to be taken care of. No matter how long-lasting and painful your morning headaches, pain in the jaw, sensitivity of the tooth, or all other indicators of the problem, which are mentioned in this article, the action taken now can prevent severe harm and save you the expensive dental treatment in the future.

A night guard, one custom-fitted, a simple and effective remedy, is capable of protecting your teeth, curing your symptoms, and ensuring you sleep better. At Englewood Oral Surgery, you will get the professional treatment of a board-certified specialist who knows a lot about the issue of bruxism and TMJ disorders.

It is not until you are in a situation of broken teeth, chronic pain, and lack of jaw function that you should wait. Contact us today to discuss your symptoms and explore how a custom night guard can protect your smile and improve your quality of life. Your jaw will be glad, and your teeth. Serving Englewood, Fort Lee, Tenafly, and the greater Bergen County area with compassionate, expert care.