Dealing with oral pain, which includes jaw pain, is definitely not ideal. This can arise from a variety of factors like bruxism, which refers to clenching and grinding your teeth, sports injuries, trauma, erupting teeth, overcrowding, and even an infection.
If you find yourself experiencing this, don’t hesitate to reach out to a dentist or even an orthodontist in NE Calgary. They’ll be able to address any concerns or questions you have.
TMJ and TMD Explained
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. We have two of these joints on either side of our faces, connecting our jaw to our skull. When we experience pain in these joints and muscles, this is referred to as temporomandibular disorder or TMD. Often, this condition restricts jaw movement, making it difficult to eat and speak.
TMD can cause an array of symptoms to arise including, but not limited to the following:
1. Chronic aches and soreness in your facial muscles, especially your lower jaw as well as in your shoulders and neck.
2. Headaches and earaches.
3. Lockjaw or clicking of your jaw.
4. Feeling dizzy.
5. Teeth sensitivity.
6. A change in your bite pattern.
To learn more about this, you may want to consider reaching out to a dental specialist like an oral maxillofacial surgeon or an orthodontist near you. These individuals possess extensive knowledge about how your teeth and gums interact with the anatomy of your head and neck. Call your local dental practice to book a consultation today.
Treating TMD with Mouth Guards
When most people think of mouth guards, they picture a gummy device that fits over our teeth to protect them from internal and external impacts. But did you know that that isn’t their only purpose? In fact, mouth guards are a great tool to protect our gums, cheeks, tongue, and lips from injury. They can also help preserve your facial joints from significant wear and tear.
As mentioned earlier, bruxism is one of the primary reasons why people can develop TMD. With that said, wearing a mouth guard during the day, or a night guard while you’re sleeping is an effective way to eliminate the damage caused by this habit and preserve our beautiful smiles.
TMJ night guards near you come in two different forms: they can be customized to fit your smile, or they can be a standard over-the-counter device.
Customized Dental Guards
This type of dental guard is made in a dental lab and requires you to come in for a formal appointment. When you do, your dentist will kick things off by performing a thorough evaluation of your teeth and gums and then proceed to take x-rays. Doing this lets them to put together a detailed picture of your oral hygiene and identify the extent of care you need.
Molds of your mouth will be made. These are delivered to the dental lab. It takes a couple of weeks for your device to be created and when it’s ready, you’ll need to come back for a second visit to receive it. Customized dental guards are made from high-quality plastic; this means that the material won’t irritate your gums or enamel. Your dentist will ensure that it fits you properly and is comfortable.
Stock Dental Guards
Though it is always recommended that you receive a customized dental guard, they are more expensive. So, if you’re interested in a more affordable option, you can visit a pharmacy or a sports store to purchase a stock mouth guard.
These devices rely upon the “boil-and-bite” technique. First, you’ll need to soften up the material in hot water so that it will mold to your smile. Then you bite down on the device.
Over-the-counter guards don’t last that long, so they will eventually need to be replaced.
Regardless of which option you prefer, it’s always a wise idea to talk to your dentist. After all, the whole purpose of a mouth or night guard is to protect your smile and eliminate any related pain. So, if something isn’t fitting right, you may need to try something different. Taking precautions will ensure that your smile remains beautiful, straight, and functional.
Are you looking to obtain TMJ night guards in NE Calgary? At Totally Orthodontics, we’re here to help! Whether you need a dental guard for an upcoming sports match, to improve your sleep, or because you’re looking to protect your orthodontics, we’ve got you covered! Call, head over to our website, or come visit our dental practice when you can to get started
We look forward to working with you soon!