6 Ways To Protect Your Teeth From Nighttime Grinding Without Dropping $1,000 On A Mouth Guard
If you grind your teeth—a condition experts refer to as "bruxism"—your dentist will likely prescribe some kind of guard or splint to prevent the headaches, cavities, and tooth breakages that can result from your troublesome clenching and grinding.
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"A well-fitting, professionally adjusted bite guard appliance remains the gold standard for care of clenching and grinding," says Matthew Messina, DDS, an advisor for the American Dental Association.
But not all dentists agree a guard is such a great idea. While that sort of appliance may protect your teeth, it doesn't treat or resolve the root cause of your problem, says Mark Burhenne, DDS, a member of the Academy of General Dentistry. It's also very pricey. A fitted, dentist-prescribed guard can run you up to $1,000.
So if not a guard—or at least, not only a guard—then what? Keep reading:
Markham Heid is an experienced health reporter and writer, has contributed to outlets like TIME, Men’s Health, and Everyday Health, and has received reporting awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Maryland, Delaware, and D.C. Press Association.
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