Mouth Guard Care

If it is determined that you need a mouth guard then you will know about

Mouth Guard Care

so they will last longer.  When you clench or grind unconsciously teeth Bruxism increases the mobility of the teeth, increases the loss of bone that holds them, teeth may feel sensitive to hot or cold foods, pain or difficulty when opening and closing the mouth, pain head, neck, shoulders, and a feeling of not waking refreshed.

Bruxism is related to stress and type of bite, it helps us to have as little stress as possible. Everyone is different, there are people who used meditation, relaxation exercises, other aerobic exercise which helps, prayer, including a conversation with a good friend or psychologist.  You will want to seek medical attention since the condition could be TJD.  Both conditions can be greatly helped with a mouth guard so you will need to know how to proceed with mouth guard care so there will not be an issue with bacteria.

For the mouth guard a mold is made to fit the upper teeth made of acrylic (plastic) that serves to remove stress while you sleep in order to prevent more damage.  There are home kits such as the one to the above left so you can do it yourself.

Here are tips on proper mouth guard care :

• Keep stored in its case as it is transparent and very easy to throw it away, or miss place.
• Wash with a stiff bristle brush and liquid dish soap, Dial contains triclosan prevents bacterial growth. Do not wash with toothpaste.
• You can do a more thorough cleaning once a week by placing 2 drops of bleach in a cup of water and leave it for half an hour, wash again.
• Always take the mouth guard to appointments for your dentist to check and perform an ultrasonic cleaning and check the fit.
• Use at night to sleep and day only in situations that you notice the teeth clenching, or use as directed.
• If you have joint pain in front of the ear stop using them and contact your dentist.

There are different types of mouth guards so you will want to double check the instructions that come with the mouth guard to make sure there is nothing further that needs to be done.  With the many brands there may also be variations in care so to be on the safe side whether you choose the disposable, over the counter or through your dentist, they will all need proper mouth guard care.

Mouth Guard for Bruxism

For most people, often it is not known that they have bruxism since it is an unconscious habit, but once found a

Mouth Guard for Bruxism

will help. You may not realize it does until someone comments that horrible grinding sound or clenching of the jaw while sleeping. This is one of the most common causes of sleep disorders and most people do not even know it. You can also discover in the dental visit because the teeth are worn or the enamel is fractured.

Bruxism may show signs such as facial pain, head and neck is considered more of a habit and there is so specific age associated with this what is considered a minor ailment.  If there are sleepless night then it is not considered minor, especially if it is an infant that can not tell you what is wrong.  If strange movement is seen with the jaw movement in an infant or child your dentist can diagnose and determine the cause of this pain is bruxism. It is also important to catch early so a mouth guard for bruxism can be purchased before further damage can be done.

The appropriate treatment depends on knowing what is causing the problem. With specific questions and examination, your dentist will determine the potential cause of bruxism and according to tooth damage and its cause, may suggest to use a mouth guard for grinding teeth while sleeping, which is made by your dentist exact fit in your mouth, or it can be purchased from a drugstore or online and is placed on her upper teeth and protects them from grinding against the lower. While the guard is a great way to treat bruxism, does not solve the problem. There is an underlying issue.

It is important to find ways to relax, since stress seems to be the major cause of bruxism as well as other issues such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Earache
• Eating disorders
• Headaches/Migraines
• Jaw pain
• Loose teeth
• Tinnitus
• Receding gums
• Neck pain
• Insomnia

There are ways to reduces stress and anxiety that can actually help, such as music, reading, walking, yoga or taking a bath.  These methods may help with some of the other symptoms as well.  You can also apply a hot wet towel over your face to relieve muscle pain caused by clenching. The high points of the teeth can be adjusted to match the bite. An uneven bite, where the teeth do not fit, it can also be corrected with new fillings, crowns or orthodontics. A mouth guard for bruxism used at night to protect your teeth, helps but does not solve the problem.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

There are many people that have

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

also known as TMJD, TMD, or TMJ syndrome, and may not even know it.  The temporomandibular joints are the two points, one on each side of the face just in front of the ears, where the temporal bone of the skull meets the lower jaw (mandible).  Ligaments, tendons and muscles that support joints are responsible for the movement of the jaw.

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex parts of the body:  It opens and closes like a hinge and slides forward, backward and sideways, and is under great pressure during chewing.  The temporomandibular joint contains a specialized piece of cartilage, called the disc, which prevents friction between the lower jaw and skull.

The temporomandibular joint disorders include problems related to joints and muscles that surround it.  Often, the cause of temporomandibular joint disorder is a combination of muscle tension and anatomic problems within the joints. Sometimes it also involves a psychological component.  These disorders are more common in women aged 20 to 50 years of age.

Symptoms include headache, tenderness of the masticatory muscles and clicking or locking of the joint.  Sometimes the pain seems to manifest itself in the vicinity of the joint rather than in it.  The temporomandibular joint disorders can lead to recurring headaches that do not respond to standard therapy.

Almost always the dentist based the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorder in the patient’s medical history and physical examination.  The test involves pressing on one side of the face or place your finger into the patient’s ear and gently press forward as it opens and closes the jaws.  In addition, the dentist also gently palpate the masticatory muscles to detect pain or tenderness, and see if the jaw slips to bite.

Internal view of the temporomandibular joint

Special techniques such as X-rays can help diagnose.  When the dentist believes the disc is in the opposite to its normal position (a condition called internal displacement), makes an X-ray dye injected into the joint (arthrography).  In special cases it is a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to find out why no response to treatment, but exploration is expensive. Additional tests are of little use.  Dentists often use electromyography to analyze muscle activity and monitor treatment and, less frequently, to establish the diagnosis.

Approximately 80 % of people get better without treatment after 6 months.  The temporomandibular joint disorders requiring treatment, the most common to least, are pain and muscle tension, internal displacement, arthritis, injuries or trauma, excessive or reduced joint mobility and developmental abnormalities.

In most cases, muscle overload and muscle spasm causes pain around the jaw, usually as a result of psychological stress, which leads to clenching or grinding teeth (bruxism) requiring a mouth guard for grinding teeth is the main treatment.