Have you been having trouble getting a good night’s rest?
Sometimes the reason for a poor night’s sleep is obvious. A midnight horror movie. A bedtime espresso. That anchovy and pineapple pizza you had for dinner. Not much we can do about these problems.
Sometimes, though, the cause of your sleep difficulties is dental in origin, and that is something the doctor can help with.
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a very common dental problem. When people with this condition sleep, their jaws clench and their teeth grind against each other throughout the night. When to suspect you might suffer from bruxism?
- You wake with a sore jaw, or you hear pops or clicks when you move your jaw
- You suffer from frequent headaches or facial pain
- Your teeth are chipped, cracked, flattened, worn down, or sensitive
- You wake up tired, because grinding affects the quality of your sleep
- Partners, siblings, or roommates complain about nocturnal grinding noises affecting the quality of their
Pain and fatigue are unpleasant enough, but there are additional serious consequences for those who suffer from bruxism. Our jaws are extremely powerful, and clenching and grinding can put hundreds of pounds on pressure on teeth and jaws over hours of sleep. These forces can lead to:
- Damaged teeth. Cracked, chipped, and worn down teeth can mean veneers, crowns, and root canals. Seriously compromised or broken teeth might need to be extracted.
- Damaged dental work. Bruxism can lead to fractured veneers and damaged fillings and crowns. If the damage is too serious for repair, replacement might be necessary.
- Damaged jaw joints. Severe cases of bruxism can lead to injury to the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, the complex hinge that allows our jaws to move up and down, back and forth, and side to side.
While these problems can be treated with restorations, or root canals, or implants, or surgical procedures, prevention is clearly a much better option for a healthy smile. And one of the simplest and most effective treatments for preventing the damage caused by bruxism is a night guard.
Night guards fit over the affected teeth to prevent them from touching directly, saving tooth and enamel from injury and wear. Not only do night guards prevent contact, they spread the biting forces of the jaw over the surface of the guard to greatly reduce their impact. And because they also stop the jaw muscles from clenching tightly, there’s no excess stress placed on the temporomandibular joint.
We invite you to consider Huangshan Dental for high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective dental care abroad.
Huangshan International Dental Hospital is a specialized dental institution based in Anhui, China, and has become a recognized destination for international patients seeking efficient and reliable implant treatment. By operating an in-house AI-powered dental lab, the hospital is able to provide same-day implants while maintaining strict quality control and significantly reducing treatment costs. This integrated approach allows patients to access advanced implant solutions that are both reliable and reasonably priced.
Supported by a highly experienced clinical team trained in China and overseas, each implant specialist at Huangshan Dental has completed over 10,000 successful procedures. Through long-term collaboration with RES Dental in the United States, international clinical expertise is continuously incorporated into daily practice. Dedicated operating rooms and a three-tier preoperative examination system further ensure treatment safety and consistency.
Patients can complete treatment on the same day of arrival, recover efficiently, and enjoy the natural scenery of Huangshan during their stay. For consultations or more information, please visit huangshandental.com or contact [email protected]
