Night grinding is a troublesome and often health-damaging condition. You may not be aware that you are grinding your teeth at night, but the symptoms will tell a different story. Headaches, jaw pain, tooth pain, fractured or unevenly worn teeth all can be caused by grinding your teeth at night. Some signs will be visible upon examination by Dr Harris but it is important to mention any of these symptoms as well.

Grinding can be caused by:

• Stress, worry
• Sleep disorders
• Abnormal bite
• Missing or crooked teeth

Sleeping with a nightguard can protect your teeth and help reduce or even eliminate the pain of night grinding. Main Street Dental Center in Marble Falls, TX can custom-fit a nightguard for your mouth and give you a restful night’s sleep free of grinding and pain.

Dental injuries are among the most common sports injuries. Studies have shown that athletes not wearing mouthguards are 60 times more likely to suffer mouth injuries. Mouthguards are required in high school and college football preventing an estimated  200,000 injuries each year, according to the American Dental Association.

Mouthguards reduce the risk of mouth, face and jaw injuries, as well as broken teeth. The basic types of mouthguards include:

• Stock. Sold in stores, these preformed guards may not fit well, reducing the effectiveness.
• Boil and bite. Also sold in stores, these fit a little better by boiling and then inserting in the mouth to form.
• Custom-fitted. Mouthguards that are custom-made are the most expensive but offer the best protection.

Main Street Dental Center can help you determine the best option for your budget and needs to protect your face and preserve your natural teeth.