Night Guard

Also known as teeth grinding, bruxism is the result of involuntary contractions of the jaw muscles. These cause the teeth to clench or rub at a time when the dental arches should not be touching.

Bruxism can have serious consequences such as:

• Premature tooth wear
• Tooth fracture
• Broken restorations (crown, dentures, fillings)
• Headaches
• Jaw and facial muscle pain
• Tooth sensitivity
• Gum recessions (receding)
• Dental mobility

Treating Bruxism

Relaxation

To date, teeth grinding is mostly attributed to psychological stress. This is why we often recommend that our patients adopt relaxation techniques. Since bruxism can also occur during the day, these would allow tension and anxiety to be released at any time of the day or night.

Physical therapy or chiropractic

Consultation with a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath may be beneficial. Awareness or rehabilitation exercises could effectively resolve or limit the jaw contraction reflex.

Night Guard

To prevent dental damage, we recommend the use of an occlusal splint. This is an acrylic aligner specially designed for your mouth. It covers the chewing surface of the upper or lower teeth depending on the situation, in order to prevent the teeth from coming into contact with each other.

Above all, don’t be embarrassed by the situation. According to the Ordre des dentistes du Québec, about 8% of adults grind their teeth. This disorder does not only affect children.